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Posted on Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.

Names released of 3 Salem Township residents killed in Christmas Day crash

By John Counts

Police have released the names of the two women and one man who were fatally injured in a car accident Tuesday.

Sixty-eight-year-old Mary Hammon, 71-year-old Jackie Hammon and 66-year-old Judith Shedell, all of Salem Township, were killed in the accident that occurred at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a release from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The three were in a 2007 Honda Civic headed eastbound on 8 Mile Road west of Currie Road in Lyon Township when they collided head-on with a 2004 Ford Taurus heading westbound driven by a 31-year-old Livonia woman.

"The driver of the Ford crossed the centerline of the roadway into the eastbound lane," the release from police said. "The Ford struck the Honda head-on in the eastbound lane."

Mary Hammon, who was driving the Honda, and Jackie Hammon, who was in the passenger seat, both had seat belts on, according to police. Shedell, who was sitting in the rear passenger seat, was not wearing a seat belt, the release said. All three died at the scene.

The driver of the Ford was transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital where she was listed in stable condition, according to the release. Police don't think alcohol was a factor in this crash.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Crash Reconstruction Unit is assisting deputies with the Lyon Township Substation with the continuing investigation. Washtenaw County rescue personnel also responded to the scene.

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

brian

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 4:38 a.m.

So so sad. Lose of life on Christmas breaks my heart. Prayers to the families.

Hallmark

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.

wow

UtrespassM

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 10:24 p.m.

No Honda civic!

jns131

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 5:05 a.m.

The NTSB have given Hondas a negative rating on crash testing. Especially on the side areas where this car ended up hitting. I think this one was a Focus. Maybe. Just another accident and a senseless tragedy.

justcurious

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 9:29 p.m.

This is just horrible news for so many who knew and loved these folks. None of us know what happened and none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. All we can do is live today the best we can and pray for those who passed.

jcj

Fri, Dec 28, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.

Well said.

Linda

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.

Prayers and Condolences to all involved in this terrible Christmas tragedy.

John Counts

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 7:48 p.m.

djacks24: Law enforcement agencies commonly use the word "accident" in the same way the public uses it when referring to a traffic "crash" or "collision," regardless of the circumstances. It's a matter of semantics.

jns131

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 5:03 a.m.

Channel 4 said this accident is still under investigation. I heard a car crossed the meridian. What I don't get is how can it be road condition related when the roads were clear at 3 in the afternoon? I have drive that stretch before with no problems. Guess we will never know if it was the egg nog or not. Good luck to the families.

djacks24

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 7:20 p.m.

I'd really like to know why my comment was removed? I didn't speculate anything but questioned AA.com for speculating on the cause by defining this as an accident (first paragraph) when it's still under investigation.

jcj

Fri, Dec 28, 2012 : 12:02 a.m.

djacks your off base on this one!

J. Zarman

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.

Perhaps it is inappropriate for a commenter to imply that the collision was intentional, especially when a fatality is involved.

Ed Kimball

Thu, Dec 27, 2012 : 2:48 a.m.

Unless you believe that one of the parties intentionally caused the crash, it's an "accident", even if one (or both) of them turns out to be negligent.

Linda Peck

Wed, Dec 26, 2012 : 7:03 p.m.

How tragic! I am sending prayers for the families and the victims.