16-year-old driver critically injured in crash
The driver airlifted in critical condition from a crash in Sharon Township Thursday is a 16-year-old Grass Lake boy, Michigan State Police said.
He suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, police said, and was flown by University of Michigan Survival Flight helicopter to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. An update on his condition was not available Friday morning.
The boy was driving a 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck south on Prospect Hill Road south of Below Road about 7 a.m., when the truck veered left across the road and onto the east shoulder, state police said in a news release. The driver apparently then over-corrected twice, causing the truck to shoot back and forth across the road. The truck hit a tree on the east side of the road.
The driver, who was the only person in the truck, was wearing a seatbelt, police said. Speed appears to have been a factor in the crash, they said. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be involved.
Prospect Hill Road is a gravel road on the western edge of Washtenaw County, northwest of Manchester.
Firefighters from Manchester Township and Grass Lake, as well as Huron Valley Ambulance, responded to the crash.
Comments
PineyWoodsGuy
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 : 6:38 a.m.
When I was his age, I had a similar driving style (which I Now Know was D-U-M-B). I learned and it is my hope this young lad will have learned his lesson and return to driving. Not being judgmental; just adding my passing encouragement to the Younger Generation.
jns131
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 6:27 p.m.
Another reason why I cannot get myself to get our child to do her road test. I am still not happy with her driving habits. Some days good some bad. Otherwise, condolences to the family. I am still considering putting off ours road test now that I am reading this.
Linda Peck
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.
My heart goes out to this boy. He must have been so scared when he lost control. Prayers for his complete recovery and for comfort for his parents and family and friends.
mkm17
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
I very much hope the boy will be okay. I have loved being a parent, but I admit that my lowest points were when each of the three kids turned 16 and got their driver's licenses. All three kids were (and are) fine, but I worried all the time about them being inexperienced drivers.
Laura Jones
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
I really hope he comes through this. It was very striking to read he was transported to Mott. Still a child medically at 16,, just makes it all the more sad.
jns131
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
But yet this child got a license to drive restricted. I am wondering if the child was even ready to drive without supervision. Wow. What a nightmare for the family. This makes me consider waiting another year to finalize our childs license.
Lisa
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
So glad he got medical help so quickly. Praying for a fast and full recovery.
ThinkingOne
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
So Tom, you are then suggesting that if 500 people were praying for this young man, it would be better if they swarmed the hospital room and insisted on 'helping' him in person? I am sure that he, his family, and the hospital sincerely appreciate your little phrase... Sometimes it is better to just keep your thoughts to yourself. This is probably one of them.
jcj
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
Ypsi One quack putting forth a theory does not a study make! Of course if I had to live in Ypsi I might think prayer was useless!
jcj
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.
I can only assume that Tom, Enso and Ypsi don't have kids! I do not know of a single parent of a teenager that has not prayer for their safe return.Even if they won't admit it.
ypsicat
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:36 a.m.
Studies show that prayers do more harm than good.
Skyjockey43
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.
Here we go. Someone offers a heartfelt message of well wishes in the midst of a tragic event, and as is too often typical, this triggers Ann Arbor's finest atheists to turn it into a mockery and an opportunity to denigrate someone else's religious beliefs.
Enso
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 6:16 p.m.
@ Tom Hell Yeah!
Ghost of Tom Joad
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:48 p.m.
Two hands working can do more than 1000 clasped in prayer.
actionjackson
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 5:12 p.m.
Hoping for a speedy and complete recovery. Feel badly for the young man's friends and family.
jcj
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 1:51 a.m.
I suspect Tom, Enso,and Ypsi do not have kids! I do not know of a single parent of a teenager that has never prayed for their safety. EVEN if they would not acknowledge it.
justcurious
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 4:31 p.m.
It's a beautiful area out there but gravel roads and hills make careful driving important. I hope he will come through this alright.
Ann English
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 11:50 p.m.
Justcurious, Prospect Hill as a name for a road gives the impression it's a hilly road. Hope there are yellow diamond-shaped signs along it reading, LIMITED VISION ON HILLS. Even gentle hills can hide oncoming cars and cars you might be catching up with.
Ann English
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
mbill, I had no idea that overcorrecting was possible on gravel roads; when I did it and heard of others doing it while attempting to pass others yet encountering oncoming cars in the passing lane, it was always on a paved road. When other drivers drift over the center line, WE can lose control of our cars, because of going partially off the pavement to avoid getting hit by the oncoming car's front left corner panel and bumper.
mbill
Sat, Oct 27, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
Where he went out of control was not hilly, or wash boarded, he was going at such speed and 16 years old. I was lucky when I did it at 16, I just went in the ditch. I went over there in the evening and you could still see the digs and swerves in the road. He went up at least a 4 foot embankment before hitting a very large maple tree. Careful driving should be important in the city also.
Billy
Fri, Oct 26, 2012 : 4:23 p.m.
Oh wow....that's really out in BFE. Not a main road at all. Glad they were able to get to him quickly. Did HE manage to call 911 or was it a neighbor or passerby? If he was critically injured I would think it was someone else that notified emergency services.