Mount Pleasant man dead, two injured after two-vehicle collision on M-20

A Mount Pleasant man is dead and two others injured after a two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon on M-20 near Wise Road in Chippewa Township.

Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski said Candum Royal Buckner, 38, was killed around 4 p.m. after driving his Ford Ranger eastbound, crossing the center line and striking the front of a GMC Sierra as it headed in the opposite direction.

Thomas Carl Reinig, 58, and Daniel Thomas Reinig, 31, both of Sanford, were in the Sierra and suffered unknown injuries in the accident. They were taken to Central Michigan Community Hospital.

Roy Buckner of Mount Pleasant walks away from the scene after learning that his 38-year-old son, Candum Royal Buckner, was killed following a head-on collision on M-20 on Tuesday, Feb 9. (Sean Proctor/Staff Photographer)

Mioduszewski said there was a possibility the two will be flown out to a different hospital, depending on the severity of their injuries.

The Ranger is owned by Mount Pleasant resident Roy Buckner, who was at the scene of Tuesday’s crash and said his son borrowed the truck. The collision left the westbound lane of M-20 inaccessible to motorists, causing a mile-long traffic back-up eastbound.

Officials: Take precaution

Mioduszewski said a “fairly significant number” of accidents had been called in to Central Dispatch throughout Tuesday, but did not know the exact number.

Two accidents occurred on Central Michigan University’s campus Tuesday, CMU Police Sgt. Mike Morrow said. The snow and strong winds were expected to continue over Tuesday night and into this morning.

“Based on the weather and road conditions, I’d say it’s likely we handle more as the night goes on,” he said Tuesday.

Snowfall was expected to continue Tuesday night, accumulating about 4 inches by Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. About 1 inch of blowing and scattered snow was expected to fall today, with a chance of flurries overnight.

CMU Police Chief Bill Yeagley urged students to take extra precautions to prevent accidents clogging the roadways.

“Those who can walk, we encourage them to walk,” Yeagley said. “Those who need to drive, just slow down and allow extra space for stopping. Just slow everything down.”

The Isabella County Road Commission was gearing up for more snowfall early Tuesday night. Manager Tony Casali expected to have a full fleet of plows out early this morning.

Each township should have at least one snow plow tending to it, he said.

“We’re not worried about the volume of the snow. We’re prepared for that. We’re more worried about high winds and drifting (snow),” Casali said.