Firefighters free driver injured in two-car crash after he fell asleep
A vehicle crossed the centerline of North Territorial Road after its driver fell asleep and crashed nearly head-on into another vehicle in Northfield Township Friday afternoon.
The driver who fell asleep, a 39 year-old man from Dexter, suffered a broken leg, cuts and bruises and a possible broken arm in the accident, said Northfield Township Police Officer Scott Schultz.
The man was driving a 1993 Suzuki Sidekick west on North Territorial Road near Sutton Road when he fell asleep about 3:35 p.m. Friday, Schultz said. His vehicle struck an eastbound Honda Civic driven by a 62-year-old Plymouth man, Schultz said. The vehicles spun around, and the Dexter man’s Sidekick ended up on its side.
Northfield Township firefighters used the Jaws of Life to peel the roof off and free the victim, Schultz said. Huron Valley Ambulance took the driver to the University of Michigan Hospital.
The Plymouth man was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Superior Township for evaluation. He did not have any obvious injuries, Schultz said.
North Territorial Road was closed for about an hour.
Comments
Peggy
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 3:23 a.m.
Actually, Lily'sMom, Sleep apnea disrupts your night time sleeping causing you to be extremely tired during the day and fall asleep randomly. My mother-in-law used to fall asleep at her desk at work until she was diagnosed.
jns131
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.
Or a big turkey meal.
Jimmy McNulty
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 1:15 p.m.
So does a big lunch.
Lily'sMom
Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 11:40 p.m.
@Joe_Citizen You need to look up 'sleep apnea' for the correct definition. You're probably thinking of 'narcolepsy'. Perhaps the guy was just tired!
Joe_Citizen
Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 9:52 p.m.
"Rescue" Not "Free" driver. Does anyone edit the posts before they go out. "Free driver" is a bit misleading. Free, is too common of a word to be used here. Either way: I hope they are both OK, and it looks like their safety belts actually worked. The man who fell asleep at the wheel may very well have "Sleep Apnea". If anyone who knows him reads this post may want to share this info with him.