away: A lake resident captured this photo of the vehicle being towed away after the accident.
By Ken Wyatt
A western Jackson County couple perished in a fiery crash near Swains Lake in Pulaski Township Sunday morning (Oct. 6).
Here’s what the Michigan State Police report had to say, based on both troopers’ on-site investigation and witness statements:
“The vehicle, a 2012 Honda CR-V, was traveling northbound on Pulaski Road at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed the double yellow line into the southbound lane of Pulaski Rd appearing to attempt to pass the witnesses vehicle. Prior to passing the vehicle returned to the northbound lane of Pulaski and attempted to pass the vehicle using the right shoulder of the road.”
During that maneuver, the Honda came into “door-to-door” contact with the witness’s vehicle, lost control, left the road, hit a tree and burst into flames, according to the report.
Troopers were dispatched to the scene at 10:39 a.m. Sunday. They were told two occupants were inside the vehicle. On their arrival, “Troopers were able to observe two occupants in the vehicle, however they were not identifiable,” according to the report.
The fire was extinguished by members of the Concord Fire Department.
The accident investigation had not yet determined if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. If anyone has information pertinent to the crash, the Jackson Post may be contacted at 517-780-4580.
Having contacted family members, state police said they believe they know identities of the deceased, though confirmation was pending more investigation. It is Michigan State Police policy not to identify victims by name, but only by ages and hometown. They had not released that much information by midweek.
Some family members indicated online that the two victims were an elderly couple enroute to church in Concord. Pending formal identification, The Recorder is not reporting the names other than to acknowledge they were residents of a Hanover address, which is actually within Pulaski Township.
Even as firefighters and state police were on the scene Sunday, discussion in the community focused on hazards of that stretch of Pulaski Road.
The accident occurred downhill a short distance from the crest of a hill where Swains Lake Drive intersects with Pulaski Road. At the bottom of the hill is the entrance to Swains Lake County Park.
That entire stretch of road is signed with a reduced speed limit of 35 mph. The road south of Concord has a posted 45 mph limit. As the road winds around the eastern end of the lake, signage suggests 35 mph. Just south of Swains Lake Drive a sign indicates a 55 mph limit for southbound traffic.
However, residents along the road complain that many motorists drive much faster through that winding, hilly road area than any of those posted limits.
One resident, Cyndi Hoffman, is a lake resident with a view of the passing traffic on Pulaski Road. Here’s what she had to say, which reflects other comments:
“Daily I observe vehicles traveling at dangerously high speeds past my Pulaski Road home. I’d estimate some are going no less than 70, maybe higher. In under two years there have been multiple roll overs, loss of control through my yard and the adjacent property or to the golf course side.
“The same families impacted by today’s accident dealt with a roll over in the yard this August. A woman expressed concern about her kids, who board and disembark from the school bus on that same hill.”
Whitney Lynn, a woman who was witness to the aftermath of the crash and lives near the site, shared this: “My boyfriend and another gentleman could not get the two people out of the car before the explosion.”
She went on to speak of the hazards of the road: “We have come close to getting T-boned pulling in the driveway because of people flying around the curve. The bus picks our kids up and drops them off right there and it’s nerve-wracking. I wish people would be more cautious.”
She also relates a story of another accident back in August at the place. “It was around 10:30 p.m. I heard what sounded like someone sliding, so I went outside, did not see anything … it was really dark, so I walked to the end of my driveway and seen the taillights flashing.
“There was a younger kid standing next to the car. It was flipped over, but he had crawled out of the back seat. I checked him – he had a gash on the back of his head, but he said he didn’t know the area and the curve came up quick. The skid marks started at Swains Lake Drive and he flipped next to where the accident Sunday happened.”
Other lake residents brought up previous efforts to enhance safety along that stretch of the road:
Bob Jones, former Pulaski Township supervisor, remembers that years ago former County Commissioner Betty Brigham got the county to put in a 5-feet-wide bike/pedestrian walk from Concord to the lake. However, subsequent road work has reduced that path, and it is now more like 2-feet wide.
Several residents mentioned concerns about children and people biking along that smaller path. One said, “The allotted narrow bicycle lane isn’t enough security for my sense of safety.”
Another resident whose family members have worked for the county road commission (now Department of Transportation) says that years ago he remembers the crest of the hill was higher than it now is. The hilltop was lowered for sight and safety reasons when Pulaski Road became a Class A route.
In recent months, that entire stretch of road has been the focus of ongoing utility work, with portable signs warning motorists to slow down. Fortunately, there have been no accidents related to the daily work being done.
