Two students injured in car crash at Broomfield Road, West Campus Drive

Two Central Michigan University students suffered minor injuries Monday night as the result of a car accident at West Campus Drive and Broomfield Street.

Officers from the Mount Pleasant Police Department were called to investigate the scene of the accident within minutes.

Lansing sophomore Kevin Borek and Grandville sophomore Chris Hayes were headed northbound on West Campus Drive from Washington Meadows to pick up a friend from class at a commuter lot near Washington Street.

At about 7:20 p.m., the passenger side of Hayes’s ’98 Mercury Stable was struck down by the crushing blow of another vehicle.

“The light turned green and I guess he just didn’t see it,” Hayes said. “He just t-boned me. I’m just mad because I’m not going to have a car anymore.”

According to police, the opposing driver, Mel Rocheleau ran a red light headed westbound on Broomfield in his ’98 Town and Country Chrysler.

Rocheleau said he and his wife had just bought a pizza and were about to meet with their son.

Although witnesses claim Rocheleau ran the red light, he said Haynes was the one who ran it.

No serious injuries were reported but Hayes suffered a cut between his eyes that he said may require stitches.

“They’re fine,” said Officer Mike Woodruff from the Mount Pleasant Police Department. “We disregarded the ambulance but they showed up anyway.”

The north and south lanes of the intersection at Broomfield Street and West Campus Drive were blocked off for about a half hour by two police cars as emergency assistance was on the scene.

Hayes, who had never been in an accident prior to this, said his Mercury Stable is totaled.

He said he was pretty shaken up, but it could have been worse.

The entire passenger side of his car was caved in and the windshield was completely ruined.
Rocheleau’s vehicle did not suffer nearly as much damage.

Police were still investigating the situation late Monday night and plan to release further information at a later time.