Tex Treeder

Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.

I still prefer the term "accident" to "crash."

MJ

Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.

Those living in the area will tell you the accident happened about 1/2 mile north of Bemis. Had it occurred about a mile north of Bemis it would have been at or just south of Merritt as the two roads are separated by a mile. I grew up in the area affected by the closure and arrived to visit family while the road was closed to thru traffic for and the accident. As for the question about Carpenter Rd, it is a two lane road with wide shoulders and is flat land in this area. It looked like the accident occurred near the power lines that cross Carpenter about 1/2 mile south of Merritt that border the south side of a farm. South of the accident is residential and there is a curve about a quarter mile south of the power lines. I would wonder why the driver didn't use one of the many driveways south of the farm to turn around.

Ann English

Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.

I'm not sure which direction they were going, south or north, but both must have been wearing seat belts. If the man was heading toward the northbound lane when he got hit, I would think he would be more seriously injured than reported: another car hitting him right on his door. I don't know if that stretch of Carpenter Road is two or four lanes wide, but it's risky making a U-turn just beyond a crest in the road. Sounds safer to turn around in a residence's or business's driveway on Carpenter than make a U-turn.

cptn.cakeeater

Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.

I made a u turn on carpenter to get one of those Octoberfest burgers at red robbin

jcj

Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 9:42 p.m.

Question: Are U-turns legal in Michigan ? Answer: Under state law and in the absence of a traffic control device prohibiting same, the maneuver may be completed as long as it can be done in safety, is not careless or reckless, and gives way to other traffic that have the right-of-way. This is outside of a city, village, or township that has adopted the Uniform Traffic Code. Allow me to speculate. This would appear to how it might have happened. Driver A want to make a U-turn. Driver A pulls onto shoulder to give themselves more room to make the turn. Driver A pulls back across in front of driver B who assumed driver A was just pulling off the road. Resulting in a crash.

AfterDark

Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.

Is that area a no passing zone? Limited sight zone? Posted "No U-Turn" zone? How many lanes wide is Carpenter at that point? Most U-turns aren't illegal (and it takes a special kind of inattention to hit someone in front of you executing a proper one).

Wolf's Bane

Sat, Nov 5, 2011 : 8:56 p.m.

I hope the 43-year-old Saline man who attempted to make a U-turn on Carpenter Road got a ticket?!