Police: Driver killed when 2nd vehicle fails to stop at intersection
(This story has been updated with comments from the assistant chief of the Augusta Township Fire Department.)
A 63-year-old man died at the scene Friday night after another vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into his car.
Michigan State Police said Michael Toth of Willis was driving through the intersection of Bunton and Talladay roads in Augusta Township at about 5:30 p.m. when the crash took place.
The 2nd driver - identified as 18-year-old Halee Campbell of Ypsilanti - was westbound on Talladay "and failed to stop at the stop sign," according to a news release from MSP.
Campbell, driving a 2010 Ford Focus, crashed in the 2010 Ford Explorer driven by Toth. Both drivers were alone in their vehicles and both were wearing seatbelts, police said.
Rescuers from Huron Valley Ambulance and the Augusta Township Fire Department were called to the scene.
The call came in as a rollover crash, said David Music, assistant fire chief in Augusta Township.
Within moments, that call was upgraded in priority after a bystander reported that the driver of the Explorer - the vehicle that rolled - had no pulse, Music said.
Rescuers determined that he could not be saved, and also removed the driver of the Focus from her vehicle.
"The front of the car was sheared off to the engine," Music said. Campbell was "alert and talking" on the scene as rescuers assisted her.
Campbell was taken to Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment. Hospital officials said she was not admitted.
The force of the impact pushed both vehicles out of the intersection, Music said, and they ended up an estimated 40 feet apart.
Crews remained on the scene for 3.5 hours, Music said. His team diverted traffic from the intersection at Judd Road and prevented drivers from entering the intersection where the crash took place.
Both MSP accident investigators and the medical examiner spent some time gathering evidence while township crews controlled traffic.
Toth's family declined comment Saturday afternoon. Funeral information was not available.
Comments
David
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
As someone who has Lived in the Area all my life, Drivers Blow that stop sign all the time and yes I have seen it and most times its younger drivers, Mr Toth Was doing Nothing wrong but Driving home that day and My prayers to his Family as he had just lost his wife a week before this happend. Lets have a Some respect for the Family. And No we cant blame the sun as it was cloudy that day.
Wilddog
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Bunton Rd. does not have a stop sign in either direction. There was no reason for Mr Toth to stop.
mr54
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
I live in the area and all too often i see vehicles traveling above 55mph on Talladay and Bunton Roads( which by the way is insane on a gravel rd.)
ThinkingOne
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
I cannot find it in the article - was the victim southbound at the time? The article merely states that he was driving through the intersection. I am assuming that the driver of the car (clearly stated to be driving westbound) must have hit the driver's side of the SUV. Very sad news.
David
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 12:32 p.m.
Yes and the SUV went Rolling in the field
jns131
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.
Interesting that the guy in the Explorer died while the driver of the Focus survived. By all accounts according to the crash test data the Explorer with roll bar should have survived. The Focus has the 5 point rating while the Explorer has I believe the 15 or so crash test rating. What a nightmare to all. This is why we all come to a full stop and don't assume that the other driver is going to stop. Happened to us and glad that we walked while this scenario? Did not go so lucky. Good luck to all.
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
The man who stopped was probably somehow disobeying traffic laws. I see it all the time. Car drivers ignoring traffic laws and safety. I know that comment isn't fair, but we get comments here like that All The Time whenever a bicyclist is hit. Even when the driver who hits the cyclist is ticketed, someone will go on a rant about how bikes don't obey laws. Not some bikes, but bikes. And for reasons unknown, those comments are not typically removed.
bunkie12
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 6:24 p.m.
A 18 YEAR OLD GIRL THAT RAN THE STOP SIGN,It was THE MAN IN THE FOfD HAD RIGHT OF WAY...total LOSS TO EVERYONE....
oyxclean
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
This isn't about you. Get over it.
bunkie12
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 11:15 a.m.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Toth's family (children) not only did they lose their Father that day ,their Mother pass away a week ago. My heart goes out to them. This a terrible , unbelievable accident that could have been prevented. May God be with them in this time of need.
David
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
Very sad. prayers to the family
justcurious
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 2:29 a.m.
I can't think of excuses of why this happened. I can only think of a man who had his life cut short and the family and loved ones he left behind. What a terrible thing this is. I have started looking both ways several times at all intersections in the last few years.
Urban Sombrero
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
How incredibly sad. For both sides. A man is dead and a young woman will have to live with the guilt of his death for the rest of her life. I feel sad for everyone involved. Out of curiosity, what is the speed limit on that stretch of road? I'm guessing pretty high if a small car can do that much devastation to an Explorer.
jns131
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
A 5 pint rated car hitting another vehicle going slower with a higher crash test rating can do serious damage unless both cars are doing the same velocity of speed. In any case, this crash is worth investigating by the NTSB.
Cash
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
Gravel road = 55 (unposted). HOWEVER, as always the speed should be determined by the condition of the road. Gravel roads in that area are in rough condition. I think anyone in Augusta Township would tell you the same thing. As I recall in 2006 local control of speed limits on gravel roads was taken away and given to the state. Now there is a bill to change that in the legislature. http://michiganvotes.org/2012-HB-6035 Apparently that law can't move as quickly through the legislature as ....(clearing my throat) some others did recently.
Milton Shift
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 8:45 a.m.
A little off topic, but a "t-bone" collision doesn't require high speeds to be fatal (though this does sound like a high speed crash). A friend was killed in a crash at under 25mph. She got nailed on the driver's side when both hit the gas at an intersection. There's no crush zones, no airbags there to protect you.
Basic Bob
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 2:21 a.m.
I would guess the state speed limit (55)
Little Patience
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 11:46 p.m.
My prayers are with the Toth family, the witnesses, and rescuers. Very sad!
Martha Cojelona Gratis
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 10:22 p.m.
Ford needs to build safer vehicles!
KJMClark
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
Um Skyjockey, did you miss the part that the young woman was driving a 2010 Ford Focus, and wasn't even admitted to the hospital? I'm thinking Martha was making a gallows humor joke.
Skyjockey43
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 11:11 p.m.
meet rather than meat. I curse you evil auto correct
Skyjockey43
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.
You mean build a vehicle that can survive a more than 45 MPH combined speed collision with no harm to the occupants? Well Ford did build a vehicle that could do that. It was a 3 ton M1918 light battle tank. Unfortunately this vehicle probably wouldn't be able to meat the Obama administration mandated 54.5 MPG Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards by 2025 so I guess we're out of luck there.
shadow wilson
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 10:31 p.m.
or people should stop at stops signs.......charges may be forthcoming
Jack Gladney
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 8:24 p.m.
I can't imagine what would cause an 18 year old driver to not notice a stop sign during daylight hours. Must have been the setting sun. Must have. I guess they'll have to check the cell phone records. Very sad situation.
David
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.
NO sun it was cloudy day
Andy Price
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 1:37 a.m.
The sun is not setting at 5:30 at present.
Little Patience
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 11:45 p.m.
@Sheri is correct - people blow through stops signs out here all the time. I've seen people on Hitchingham zip right across Willis Rd without bothering to slow down.
a2citizen
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 10:07 p.m.
"...with no facts to support your implication..." Tom, the article states, "... failed to stop at the stop sign..."
Sheri
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 9:43 p.m.
It is a shame that "people - old and young" feel the need to RUN the stop signs on these back roads. We live 1 "country" block from here and people run the stop sign all the time. "Stop Ahead" signs don't help - they have to read them. The intersection in question is another that people tend to NOT stop!!! Such a shame that an 18 year old is sitting at home tonight freaking out because she killed a man. Also a shame that the Toth Family is having a prepare a funeral for their Father. Their Mother died on the 5th of March!!! I feel for all involved.
Bear
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
Get off your high horse, Tom. Statistically young inexperienced drivers ARE the cause of many fatal accidents. And texting has become an additional distraction to inexperienced drivers involved in accidents. It is a valid question, in other words, backed up by an inordinate amount of evidence learned from experience through collection of information.
tom swift jr.
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
How kind of you to place snide blame on this young person with no facts to support your implication.
Matt Cooper
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 7:48 p.m.
Condolences to the victim and his family. This makes me wonder if cell phone use or texting was involved.
Jim Osborn
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
How sad for all involved. I'm wondering how the young driver missed the stop sign. Some intersections have blinking red lights to prevent such accidents. Is there a "Stop Ahead" sign displayed? If not, I hope that this is changed.
Linda Peck
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
Very sad. I am praying for blessings for the victims and their families.
lefty48197
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 6:53 p.m.
What a horrible event. I'll pray for the victim and his family.
dancinginmysoul
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 6:30 p.m.
What a tragic event for everyone. My prayers to all parties involved.
Cash
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 5:51 p.m.
Horrible. My memory fails me...are both Talladay and Bunton gravel roads at that point?
mr54
Sun, Mar 17, 2013 : 6:04 p.m.
I live in the area and Bunton rd. is 45mph till it turns to gravel south of Talladay at which point the speed limit becomes 55mph. Which BTW is just insane. Talladay Rd. is also 55mph from Rawsonville Rd. to McCrone Rd.
Cash
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 6:12 p.m.
Thanks Paula. Ugh. This is horrible.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 5:56 p.m.
Assistant Chief Music told me that Bunton becomes gravel south of Talladay, which is gravel.
RichG
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.
Sending prayers to the families.
Dog Guy
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 5:29 p.m.
This is sad news. I offer my prayers and sympathy for the drivers and their families.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Mar 16, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
I'll add the witnesses/bystanders and rescuers to that list. I'm always amazed and relieved that people are willing to help. In this case, someone nearby provided critical info to the rescuers who were on their way. Yet it also has to be an unforgettable experience for all of them, too.