95-year-old Peter Berta, 'friend to everybody,' dies in crash
Editor's note: This article has been revised with corrected information from the Washtenaw County sheriff's department.
Peter Berta was the kind of person who would do anything for you, his daughter said. If your car broke down, he’d help you get it fixed. And if you didn’t have the money to fix it, he’d give it to you.
Berta, a 95-year-old Pinckney resident, died after his 2003 Ford Escape hit a tree brought down by thunderstorms on North Territorial Road in Webster Township and struck two oncoming vehicles.
"My dad was a wonderful father and husband and a friend to everybody,” said Brenda Sabol, who lives in Southgate. Tuesday, she was at her parents’ house in Pinckney where her mother, Joana Berta, 93, is recovering after the crash.
Sabol said she can hardly believe her mother, who was a passenger in the Escape, survived after seeing the remains of the vehicle, the roof of which was sheered off in the crash.
“She just is devastated. They’ve been married for 73 years. My dad wasn’t on any medication. He walks straight and tall. He was very healthy.”
Peter Berta was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital, Washtenaw County sheriff’s department spokesman Derrick Jackson said Tuesday. Joana Berta was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital, where she spent the night. She was released Sunday, her daughter said.
"She's home, but she's as sore as can be and full of bruises."
Thunderstorms that had moved through the area, bringing wind and heavy rain, had brought down the tree, which was partially blocking the roadway, Jackson said. Berta's vehicle hit branches of the tree lying in the road, then crossed into the lane of oncoming traffic and sideswiped a 1994 Chevrolet pickup truck then hit a 2007 Saturn, Jackson said.
The accident occurred about 5 p.m. just east of Huron River Drive, Jackson said.
Neither the driver of the pickup truck, a 70-year-old Dexter man, nor the Saturn driver, a 61-year-old man from Plymouth, suffered serious injuries in the crash, Jackson said.
All the occupants were wearing seat belts, Jackson said. Neither speed nor alcohol appeared to be a factor in the crash, he said.
“It looks like it was just a tragic accident,” Jackson said.
Comments
BZ1GRN
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 11:16 p.m.
The report contains a few inaccuracies regarding the sequence of events. That does not change the scope of the tragedy that occurred or bring solace to Joana Berta or the rest of the family. The family should know that everyone at the scene did as much as they could to aid both of them and that Huron Valley Ambulance, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, and the Dexter Fire Department responded promptly to the accident. They did as much as they could. Prayers were offered at the scene for both Joana and Peter by a concerned witness and me, We can only offer our condolences after the fact. The entire family remains in my thoughts every waking moment. - "61-year-old man from Plymouth"
donderop
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 10:34 p.m.
Sympathies to the family. How very sad.
kay
Wed, Aug 24, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
So sad------what a loss. My deepest condolences to his family.