Nature of Incident: 2 Car Serious Injury Crash
Incident #: 23-011207
Date & Time: 11/13/2023 10:57am
Location: M43/M40 Waverly Township
Vehicle 1/ Driver 1 2007 Pontiac Torrent, 21 year old male from Bangor
Vehicle 2/ Driver 2 1999 Chevrolet full size pickup, 32 year old male from Gobles
Assisting Agencies: Paw Paw Fire Department, Paw Paw Quick Response, Van Buren EMS
Narrative:
Sheriff Daniel E Abbott reports that a Deputy was monitoring the intersection of M43 Hwy/M40 Hwy for traffic violations due to recent crashes, when he observed a black Chevrolet pickup traveling southbound on M40 Hwy approaching M43 Hwy with a green light. The driver of a Pontiac Torrent turned westbound onto M43 Hwy from M40 Hwy, failing to yield to the pickup, who had the right of way. The pickup truck t-boned the Pontiac Torrent. The Deputy immediately secured the scene and requested the Fire Department and EMS. The 22 year old passenger in the Pontiac was transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he is currently in the Intensive Care Unit. The passenger of the pickup truck, a 28-year-old female from Allegan, refused transport from the scene; however, she sought treatment at an area hospital for her injuries.
The driver of the Pontiac was not licensed to drive and did not have insurance on his vehicle. Charges are being submitted to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office for the 21-year-old driver of the Pontiac for traffic violation causing serious injury, which is a felony. Misdemeanor charges are also being requested for driving while unlicensed and driving without insurance.
Sheriff’s Deputies routinely monitor heavily traveled intersections to not only enforce violations, but also to deter violations by their visible presence to the motoring public.
To view a dashcam video of this incident, Click HERE.
