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Posted on Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.

Alcohol a factor in single-vehicle rollover crash that injured 5 people on I-94 near Chelsea, police say

By Stefanie Murray

Alcohol appears to be a factor in the single vehicle rollover crash that occurred Saturday morning on eastbound I-94 near Chelsea, critically injuring one woman and closing the freeway, according to Michigan State Police.

Six people — three men who are brothers and three women, all in their late 20s — were in the vehicle on their way to Michigan Stadium from the Grand Rapids area for the Michigan-UMass game. Five of the six were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle in the crash, police said.

Two of the five who were ejected, both women, were flown to the University of Michigan Hospital. One remained in critical condition, and the other was in serious but stable condition Saturday evening, a police press release said. The third woman was hospitalized with minor injuries.

All three men in the vehicle were taken by ambulance to the U-M Hospital, the release said. One had no injuries and the other two were listed in serious but stable condition, including the male driver, police said. According to the release, the driver is being investigated but further details were not released.

The crash occurred near Kalmbach Road in Sylvan Township. The highway was reopened early Saturday afternoon. In addition to the state police, Chelsea police and fire also assisted.

The crash remains under investigation.


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Comments

Sandy

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 3:38 p.m.

well not every accident there is alcohol related and those kids were not drinking and that was proved by blood work my daughter was in that accident there is about 1 accident there every 4 days something is wrong with this picture maybe some people just don't know the area

Lori

Fri, Sep 24, 2010 : 8:44 p.m.

We are thankful that everyone made it out alive. Thanks to everyone that prayed for those involved because they are my friends and neighbors.

Matt

Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 6:32 p.m.

I am very disappointed in AA.com's reporting of this. One of the girls involved has been like a sister to me and it was so difficult to read that headline that "Alcohol a factor...". That was reported as a fact. The news needs to be reported, not created.

uhhuhher

Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.

I can say with absolute certainty that alcohol was NOT a factor in this accident. I'm concerned with AA.com's reporting...

marie

Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.

The driver was not drinking as stated in this article when the accident happend. They are 6 amazing people who who were in a terrible accident. We continue to pray for the whole family. We love you guys and hope for a full recovery for all of you.

Carolyn

Mon, Sep 20, 2010 : 3:50 a.m.

My prayers go out to the Family and Friends

Lindsie

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 10:35 p.m.

Just so everyone knows alcohol was NOT a factor, the news got their story wrong. The people involved in this accident are my friends and I just got home from going to the hospital to see them! The drivers alcohol content was 0, meaning he wasn't drink at all!

stunhsif

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 8:32 p.m.

Agree with scooter dog, coming home from Oshkosh WI a couple weeks ago I took this mild S curve (EB) at posted speed + ( not the posted curve speed) easily at 11 p.m. at night. It is not a hard curve to navigate at all if you are sober and not falling asleep. I was far more worried about a deer slamming into my car or jumping in front of me than I was about a couple of mild curves.

C6

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 12:19 p.m.

McGiver: I think the truth is that there WAS a state "roadside park" there when the present-day eastbound lanes of I-94 were constructed. That park was just to the east of the Michigan Central railroad tracks, with an entrance off what are now the westbound lanes of I-94. I think what's now the westbound lanes were a two-way road in earlier days, and the little wooded "rest area" type roadside park was to the south of the road. Right where those eastbound lanes would have come through, if they hadn't constructed the "S" curve in question. If you look closely you can still see where the park's entrance was as you drive by, about 100 yards east of the railroad bridge, even though it's now overgrown with trees and has been blocked by an earth berm. As I recall from the early 1960's that roadside park continued in existance as a rest area for the westbound traffic for a few years after the road became the divided expressway, but was closed and abandoned when the more conventional rest area about seven miles to the west was opened. If you go to Mapquest's view of this area and zoom in to the closest satellite view, I think you will actually be able to determine where the roadside park's parking lot was.

scooter dog

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.

Seems like every time there is a accident at the curve on I-94 at kalmbach rd every one right away blames the road and asks what the state is going to do about the sharp curve. There are lots of signs telling people that there is a very sharp curve long before they get to the curve,so heed what the signs mean and SLOW DOWN and you'll be just fine. As for what the state is going to do about the curve,its going to do NOTHING,there is NOTHING wrong with the road if you SLOW DOWN. I've been driving that section of road for 35 yrs and have seen lots of accidents,because all you lead footed drivers try and take it way too fast. Havent you heard,the state is broke and even if they had the money they wouldn't spend it there.SLOW DOWN and stop drinking and driving.

stevek

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 6:25 a.m.

There are probably hundreds of thousands of vehicles driving that section of highway every day. it's not a hairpin turn. Why does the road need to be reconstructed? Is it so the drunk drivers can navigate that section easier?

McGiver

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 6:13 a.m.

I commented on this story in an earlier report giving an explanation of why the dangerous curve is there in the first place. Since there are so many accidents there every year, it might be worthy of a story giving the political history of why it is there and what the state highway department plans to do about it. Check out the history. It has to do with a park that was never built.

gayle

Sun, Sep 19, 2010 : 12:56 a.m.

Interesting parade of rerouted vehicles down the dirt roads South off the Kalmbach exit to reenter at Pierce Rd. entrance ramp. Normal emergency rerouting at Clear Lake Road looks like it was nixed due to closures from ongoing construction. We saw Jackson County Sheriff vehicles assisting State Police at the Washtenaw County Kalmbach exit.

oletroop

Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 8:04 p.m.

Re: alcohol related arrests. Usual procedure at an accident scene (especially with significant injuries to driver or passengers) is that troops will get a blood alcohol test from blood draw of driver under implied consent law or search warrant. Blood will then be analyzed at Crime Lab and a warrant will be sought after result is known. Usually takes a couple of weeks at least

Brad

Sat, Sep 18, 2010 : 7:39 p.m.

"A factor"? Were there alcohol-related arrests?