Woman expected to recover from crash that killed husband and other driver
The 71-year-old Freedom Township woman seriously injured in a head-on collision that killed two people in Pittsfield Township last month has been upgraded to stable condition and is expected to survive.
The woman who was seriously injured in this crash last month is expected to survive, police said.
In a statement released late Sunday night, Pittsfield Township police said Christine Ellen Stierle, the wife of Neil Stierle, was a passenger riding in the front seat of the eastbound 2005 Mercury Montego was struck head-on on the morning of July 29 on Michigan Avenue near Textile Road.
Police said Christine Stierle was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in critical condition that day. Two weeks later, she is still in the hospital but has been upgraded to stable condition.
“Her condition has improved to stable condition and she is expected to recover,” police said in the statement.
Neil Stierle, 81, was killed when a westbound 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by Benjamin Alden, crossed the centerline and struck the Montego head-on. Alden, a 28-year-old Saline man, also died at the scene of the crash.
Police said Sunday that alcohol, drugs and telephone usage are not believed to be factors in the crash. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Officials have previously told AnnArbor.com that an exhaustive investigation into the crash is ongoing, including accident reconstruction and the results of tests done by the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Neil Stierle’s funeral was held on Saturday in Pittsfield Township.
Anyone with information about this crash is encouraged to call the Pittsfield Township police at 734-822-4911.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Tesla
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 10:59 p.m.
See this is another weird thing. Why were the police and news outlets so hesitant to identify Mrs. Stierle as Neil Stierles wife? In previous articles she was listed as some mystery woman who may have been a relative. odd.
a2citizen
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 1:17 a.m.
An empty house.
cfsunlet
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 7:56 p.m.
Also, she is in good spirits, considering all that has happened.
mady
Tue, Aug 13, 2013 : 3 p.m.
That's good to hear, may God continue to walk with her!
lisaone
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:45 p.m.
Thank you Kyle...and that even explains even more when I was traveling southbound on US-23 two weeks ago why a State Trooper came up from behind me, coming fron north of Ann Arbor to the scene of that fatal accident. See! If you don't ask, you'll never know. Thank you so much for the explanation.
lisaone
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:46 p.m.
"from"
lisaone
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Great news, but sad. I pray Mrs. Stierle has the strength to get through emotionally. Not to change the subject, but why was there zero information about a roll-over on 23 at Washtenaw of a UPS truck? I was totally suprised there was no report. I saw all the responders (many)...and it seemed very serious...but not newsworthy?
towncryer
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 11:25 p.m.
Any news on that accident that went into the restaurant parking lot by Carpenter?
Ann English
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 11:04 p.m.
Kyle, I don't know just how long ago it was when Scully Road was extended northward to end at another road, but I figure the Brighton post and LIvingston Press Argus covered it. And as for the new subdivision there in Webster Township where a riding mower was stolen, the construction of new subdivisions doesn't make headlines to be published in a 50-mile radius. Thanks for the up-to-date maps used for the stories.
jcj
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
Weekend Editor? Ha! Never news on the weekend. If he is paid by the article he will starve!
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:32 p.m.
lisa- The Brighton post covers our area because the Ypsilanti post closed down in the fall of 2011. Often goes to explain why we don't hear back from troopers quickly - there is not a lot of them to cover quite a large area.
lisaone
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 6:04 p.m.
There is probably more to reporting than we know, as far as how stories are reported, I am not accusing anyone of not doing their job, just trying to figure out why some stories make it to the news and some not. Two weekends ago, same thing....a woman was killed in an accident over the weekend and there was a report on Monday. I was just a little stumped that this particular accident didn't make the paper, which led to further thoughts of why some do and some don't. With this happening in Ann Arbor, I do wonder why the Brighton Post would need to be contacted....two different counties.
Tesla
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 5:17 p.m.
They seem to blow you off a lot. Where are we at on the SUV that got rolled over and killed all the kids by that minivan last year on 23. Same thing. No...thing.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
We've been in contact with State Police today trying to get information about this but to this point but have not got any calls back. From what I've been told, our weekend editor attempted to talk to investigators yesterday but was unsuccessful and I've left a message with the shift sergeant at the Brighton post today but have not got a return call yet.
SonnyDog09
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
Two things make this incident not "news" to a2.com. 1. it happened on a weekend 2. it did not happen in downtown Ann Arbor
lisaone
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
This happened on Saturday, by the way...late evening.
justcurious
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 2:28 p.m.
Thank you Kyle for following up on her condition. I have thought about her often since the crash. No one should have to lose their spouse this way. I hope time will heal her soul.
Pizzicato
Mon, Aug 12, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
A sliver lining to an otherwise dark cloud.