Driver injured, vintage car damaged in construction zone crash on US-23 in Pittsfield Township
A driver was injured and his vintage Ford Mustang was damaged when he got confused in a construction zone on US-23 and crashed into debris piled in the roadway, authorities say.
The accident occurred Friday night on southbound US-23 north of I-94 in Pittsfield Township.
Pittsfield firefighters responded to a reported car fire there and discovered a 1960s Ford Mustang with extensive front-end damage and a small fire burning in the engine compartment, reports said.
The driver said he was confused with a traffic cone pattern placed for night road work and drove into an area restricted to traffic because he thought it was the path to access the I-94 ramps, reports said. While driving at the posted construction zone speed, his vehicle struck some asphalt and concrete piled in the roadway for removal.
The driver was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries, reports said.
Comments
81wolverine
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 10:06 a.m.
Last Friday night, my wife and I drove through that same area in separate cars. I was a little confused by it, but managed to exit where you're supposed to. However, my wife did the same thing as the driver who got in this accident - following a number of other drivers like "Lemmings" as she put it - off the main highway because of the confusing cones. Fortunately, no one got in an accident. PAY ATTENTION MDOT PEOPLE! Read these posts. This construction area is NOT clearly and safely laid out. Fix it before anyone else gets in an accident!
Mertie
Thu, Sep 2, 2010 : 12:56 p.m.
US 23 is a real mess. The construction cones are difficult to figure out, especially as there are no warning signs for the exits. I go to renal dialysis on Washtenaw three times a week at 3:30 in the morning. Even though there is not a lot of traffic it is still difficult to figure out. Once, without warning, the exit from Michigan Ave to north bound US 23 was closed.I ended up having to take bumpy Carpenter Rd. I never know which route I have to take.
historymom
Tue, Aug 31, 2010 : 3:36 p.m.
I bet that poor man is sick about his car, as well as about his injuries. I haven't been on US-23 lately, but I had a similar problem on westbound I-94 between Grass Lake and Jackson, another construction area. The road is bumpy and the color of the surface in the right lane changes every short distance. The lane looks like it is ending, but it really isn't. Traffic is supposed to be limited to 60 mph, but just about everyone is going faster. It's a mess.
Ann English
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 7:37 p.m.
C6, It was unusual for me to be in the US-23/Washtenaw Avenue area at 9:00 PM last Sunday, but we were having another church visit ours that night, and one of their own people said that the entrance ramps to US-23 from Washtenaw were closed, that the ramps themselves were being worked on. I and everybody from the visiting church would have liked to use those ramps. I would most likely have become confused if we didn't have so many extra people intending to take the freeway home.
C6
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.
I exited southbound US-23 for westbound Washtenaw at about 9:00PM Sunday evening, and even at just 25 miles per hour it was very confusing and difficult to find the open pathway for the exit. I don't know if they were just setting work up in that spot, or if it had been like that for a while. Regardless, it was obviously very confusing for everyone because it was traffic in front of me that had slowed to 25, rather than just me. I've been using that exit for more than 35 years, and last night it was bad.
spring/fall love
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.
I also was driving US-23 going south on Friday. Myself and a semi couldn't tell where we were able to enter into the lane for the 94/23 interchange. I know the there trying to complete the construction quickly but no so quickly were we (night time) driver life are at stake. I honestly would go after the construction company for all damage done to my car if i was this driver.
WeatherGril
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
My husband and I were on US 23 Saturday night and saw several cars entering at the wrong spot for I94. I'm surprised there were not more accidents.
SparklePants
Mon, Aug 30, 2010 : 1:06 p.m.
I almost made the same error! Agreed, the way that is marked off is confusing and was/is bound to cause accidents.