Head-on collision closes Business 127 Friday

At least 11 people were involved in an alcohol-related,
head-on collision accident Friday night on the Business 127
route near Kroger.

There were no fatalities at the scene but many victims were
transported to Central Michigan Community Hospital in Mount
Pleasant or airlifted elsewhere, said Tim Kruttenden, a
Michigan State Police trooper at the Mount Pleasant post. Some
victims were treated on the scene and released.

The two-car accident, which was reported at 10:39 p.m. Friday,
occurred on Business 127 between Old Mission Road and
Bluegrass Road. Traffic was rerouted for hours as
investigators closed the area to reconstruct what happened.

According to witness accounts, a green 1992 Plymouth Acclaim
turned from Old Mission Road northbound into the left turn
lane on Business 127. The Acclaim suddenly began to drift
left, directly into the path of a red Buick Century driving in
the fast lane of the southbound lanes.

The driver of the Century swerved into the left turn lane to
avoid the Acclaim, Kruttenden said, but the Acclaim drifted
back into the turn lane and collided with the Century head on.

“(The Century) tried to avoid a head-on and ended up getting
it anyway,” Kruttenden said.

The accident appeared to be influenced by more than just human
error. Kruttenden pointed out the Acclaim had a scent of
alcohol hours after the accident occurred.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor,” Kruttenden said.

Both cars, which came to rest in the northbound lanes pointing
toward Kroger, sustained heavy frontal damage. The Acclaim
lost its front bumper and the front windshield had a large
hole in it. Blood stains were evident across the dashboard.

“Somebody went through (the windshield),” Kruttenden said.

Kruttenden said air bags were employed in both cars, however,
seat belt usage was unknown.

The Michigan State Police and the Isabella County Sheriff’s
Department responded to the accident. Ambulances and fire
trucks were present as well.

The Jaws of Life were used to extract some victims from the
Acclaim, Kruttenden said. More information about the accident
will be released by the Michigan State Police today.