Driver injured when car goes out of control on U.S. 23, strikes tree
The driver of this vehicle is in stable but serious condition after crashing into a tree Wednesday morning.
Photo courtesy of Pittsfield Township Fire Department
A woman was in serious but stable condition after her vehicle shot across all lanes of U.S. 23 Wednesday morning and crashed into a tree, Pittsfield Township firefighters said.
The woman, who is in her 50s, has a medical condition that may have caused the accident, fire officials said.
She suffered injuries to her extremities and is expected to survive, firefighters said.
The department responded to the accident on U.S. 23 south of I-94 at 9:30 a.m., firefighters said in a press release. The vehicle had been headed north before it went out of control and struck the tree. The driver was the only occupant.
The driver was pinned in the vehicle and emergency responders used the Jaws of Life to free her, fighters said. She was taken to St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Superior Township.
“It appeared it was a medical condition,” said Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason.
Due to health privacy laws, Pittsfield Township Fire Chief Sean Gleason said he could not release the nature of the condition, but he said she has “a history.”
Gleason said eyewitnesses and his fire crew were “amazed” that the car crossed all the lanes without hitting another vehicle.
“By luck, she got through,” he said. “There was a decent amount of traffic.”
The Michigan State Police continue to investigate the matter.
The driver was pinned inside the vehicle. Fire crews needed the Jaws of Life for extrication.
Photo courtesy of the Pittsfield Township Fire Department
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
dading dont delete me bro
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 9:58 p.m.
"...said he could not release could release..." hunh?!?
justcurious
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 8:28 p.m.
I am amazed and dismayed at the recent accidents involving possible medical conditions and drivers that have possibly lost control of their vehicles. I hope that drivers who are diabetic, prone to seizures, or other maladies will take their medications religiously to avoid accidents. And those of us who do not have medical conditions should avoid distractions and excess speed. I hope that this woman is able to recover fully.
Bertha Venation
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
Good thing she wasn't driving a Hoveround.
Bertha Venation
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
Glad she'll be alright. That's quite a scene. If she has a medical history, should she be driving? Perhaps she forgot to take some medication? This is the second accident in recent times due to a medical condition. She is very lucky!
Enso
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 5:29 p.m.
Wow. Awesome. Assuming she is okay, which it seems she will be, to survive an accident like that entitles you to some bragging rights...