MACKINAC COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – One individual suffered serious injuries as a result of a two-vehicle crash on US-2 near St. Ignace.
On July 5, troopers from the Michigan State Police (MSP) St. Ignace Post responded to a crash on US-2 near Boulevard Drive. Troopers arrived to find a Toyota Highlander with significant front-end damage near the intersection, as well as a Chevrolet Silverado that had crashed into a nearby car wash.
The driver of the Silverado was trapped inside the vehicle with his foot pinned on the accelerator, causing the engine to continue running while heavy smoke filled the building. Shortly after the crash, the vehicle caught fire while inside the car wash. Troopers began fire suppression efforts using their fire extinguishers, but this was difficult due to the vehicle’s position inside the car wash. A volunteer firefighter arrived on scene and used a pickup truck to pull the burning Silverado from the building. Once the vehicle was removed, troopers continued working to keep the fire from spreading to the passenger compartment until the St. Ignace Fire Department arrived.
After the fire was extinguished, firefighters used extrication tools to free the driver from the Silverado. The 69-year-old St. Ignace man was transported by Straits Area EMS to Mackinac Straits Health System for treatment of serious injuries. The Toyota Highlander was being driven by a 43-year-old man from Akron, Ohio. An adult female and two juvenile passengers were also in the Highlander. The driver was not injured, but the three passengers reported non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by Emmet County EMS to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital for treatment.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates the Chevrolet Silverado was attempting to turn onto US-2 from a gas station entrance when it failed to yield to the Toyota Highlander, which was traveling westbound on US-2. The Highlander struck the driver’s side of the Silverado, causing the pickup to leave the roadway and crash into the nearby car wash. The crash remains under investigation.
MSP thanks all who assisted, including the first firefighter on scene, the St. Ignace Police Department, St. Ignace Fire Department, Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office, Straits Area EMS, Emmet County EMS, Seewald’s Towing, George’s Towing, and Chippewa County Central Dispatch.
