16-year-old girl hospitalized after crash on US-23 in Ann Arbor Township
Police and firefighters investigate after a Toyota Sienna minivan left the roadway and landed in brush along US-23 Tuesday evening.
A 16-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition following a crash Tuesday evening on US-23 in Ann Arbor Township, according to a press release from the Michigan State Police.
The teenager was thrown from the vehicle she was riding in when it ran off the roadway about 5:40 p.m., overturned and struck several trees, the press release said.
Tuesday evening, Ann Arbor Township fire officials said five people were hospitalized after the crash. Fire Lt. Aaron Blackford said the vehicle was a Toyota Sienna minivan, and it was not clear what caused the driver to lose control.
The State Police press release said the occupants of the vehicle were taken to either St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township or the University of Michigan Hospital.
The release did not indicate where the accident victims live or include any other information about them, including their ages.
The northbound lanes of the freeway were closed for several hours Tuesday while police investigated the crash.
Comments
mkm17
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.
I understand that readers are not permitted to speculate on the cause of an accident. But it would be very helpful to know if the person who was ejected was wearing a seat belt. My understanding is that it is very rare for a person who is wearing a seat belt to be ejected from a vehicle.
5c0++ H4d13y
Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 8:19 a.m.
As one of my prof's used to say, "Rare occurrence do occur, rarely"
L. C. Burgundy
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:31 p.m.
As usual the comment peanut gallery at A2.com assume facts not evident from the story and run with it. --- While getting injured while wearing seat belt is quite possible, total ejection with a properly worn seatbelt is extremely rare.
5c0++ H4d13y
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:55 p.m.
Seat belts do fail from time to time. When I was a teen I crashed my car and hit my head on the passenger side door. Everyone assumed I didn't have my belt on. I had some nice bruises on my hips to prove I did. As usual the comment peanut gallery at A2.com assume facts not evident from the story and run with it.
pseudo
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 6:12 p.m.
wow - glad to know so many crash test engineers are watching this blog - except you can't be because you have fallen for a myth. Seat belts AND airbags help prevent that from happening but do not always do so particularly for middle and back passenger seats in a minivan. Lets wait for a more conclusive statement from the police shall we? It sounded like a horrific crash and I hope everyone recovers fully. I am sorry someone was ejected as that leads to very serious injuries.
happy
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 4:24 p.m.
Any updates yet on this story?
Soothslayer
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 1:11 p.m.
Horrible. I guess the seat belt must have failed because there's no way anyone wouldn't wear one. Not sure if distraction was the cause but everyone, especially young drivers, please pay special attention to the task at hand when driving, always wear your seat belt and insist other passengers do the same.
cinnabar7071
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 12:05 p.m.
zip the cat it's really sad how many people don't know that, maybe some of them will read your comment before it gets deleted for blaming the victim.
zip the cat
Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.
Ejected from the vehicle! Seatbelts prevent this from happening