By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
A late evening motorcycle ride through Clare last Thursday, July 18, turned into a tragic crash when they were hit by a speeding driver on McEwan Street.
Clare Police Chief David Saad said in a press release, “A white Chevrolet SUV, traveling south at a high rate of speed on McEwan” crashed into an orange Harley Davidson motorcycle stopped for a red light at the intersection of Fifth Street
A couple from Mason, a 44-year-old male driver and a 42-year-old woman passenger were on the motorcycle. They both sustained “serious injuries,” Saad said.
He said, “one individual was transported to a hospital by ambulance, while the other person was flown from the Clare Municipal Airport to a hospital by a Flight Care helicopter.”
Saad said Wednesday evening that they are both being treated at Corwell Health, Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.
The driver of the Chevrolet, who fled from the scene was quickly located and identified as Thomas Vernon Claringbold III, 34. He did not sustain any injuries, the release said. He was arrested for OWI, causing serious injury; and hit and run causing serious injury.
Claringbold was arraigned in 80th District Court on Friday, July 19 and charged with:
two counts of operating-while intoxicated causing serious injury, a five-year felony;
two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment or death, a five-year felony;
two county of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, a five-year felony; and
one count of failure to report an accident, a 90-day misdemeanor.
He is being held in the Clare County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
Saad said, “Our thoughts are with the injured individuals and their families during this difficult time.”
The Clare Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Clare Fire Department, the Clare County Sheriff’s Office, Mobile Medical Ambulance Service, the Michigan State Police and the MSP Accident Investigation Unit.
