Teen with full-ride scholarship to CMU dies in Aug. 11 Midland County crash
An 18-year-old woman who had been accepted to Central Michigan University on a full-ride scholarship died Aug. 11 after a head-on traffic crash in Midland County.
Gladwin resident Kristina Garafalo was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash the night of Friday, Aug. 11, according to the Midland County Sheriff’s Office. The Midland Daily News reports that Garafalo was a high school valedictorian that received a full-ride scholarship to CMU.
Garafalo’s obituary confirms that she was the 2017 valedictorian of Gladwin High School and was accepted to attend CMU on a full academic scholarship. Her obituary states, “Although her time here was way too short, she was a very gifted and ambitious young lady who made her parents very proud.”
The incident took place at about 11:16 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, on eastbound US-10 West of Stark Road in Lincoln Township, according to the Midland County Sheriff’s Office. At about 11:14 p.m., Midland County Central Dispatch received a call reporting a vehicle heading westbound in the eastbound lane of US-10 near Eastman Road, police said. A head-on crash was reported two minutes later.
An investigation from Midland County Sheriff Scott Stephenson and his office shows Janice Rozek, a 67-year-old from Auburn, was driving her red 2006 Chevy Equinox, westbound in the eastbound lane of US-10. Police said she then struck a black 2000 Lincoln Town Car driven by Garafalo, whose vehicle was heading eastbound.
There was a second crash at the scene a short time later, police said. Garafalo’s vehicle had come to rest sideways in the roadway after the first crash. A silver 2005 Pontiac G6 driven by Brett Bohn, an 18-year-old from Sanford, was unable to stop in time and hit the rear passenger corner of Garafalo's vehicle.
All drivers appeared to be wearing seatbelts during the crashes, police said.
Garafalo was pronounced dead at the scene. Rozek was transported to MMMC with critical injuries. Bohn and the two passengers in his vehicle were not injured.
The Sheriff’s Office said there is no evidence to indicate that alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in the crashes, but are waiting for toxicology reports for a final determination. The report will be forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutor’s Office for review after completion.
The Midland County Sheriff's Office were assisted at the scene by Midland City Police, Lincoln Township Fire Rescue, Jerome Township Fire Rescue and Mid-Michigan EMS.
Heather Smith, director of communications at University Communications, said the university has heard of the loss and calls it "incredibly tragic."
"Every time we lose a member of the CMU community it hits us hard," Smith said. "We’re incredibly saddened by this loss and offer our sincerest condolences to the student’s family and her friends.”
Garafalo’s funeral services take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gladwin, according to her obituary.
