UPDATE: Fatal two-vehicle accident under investigation
UPDATE: Tuesday, August 1, 2017 10:39 A.M. EDT
Officials with the Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal traffic crash on U.S. 2.
On Monday around 3:30 P.M., officials responded to a traffic crash on U.S. 2 near H33 in Mackinac County. Upon arrival, it was found that a line of traffic was moving slowly on eastbound U.S. 2 when an empty semi/tanker driven by Raymond Pross, 70, of Pinconning approached the slow moving traffic and collided with a passenger car driven by Kenneth Swartzendruber, 76, of Traverse City.
Swartzendruber’s vehicle was forced into a pickup truck driven by Dean Holstrom of Minnesota. Holstrom’s vehicle was forced off onto the right shoulder of the road. The semi and the vehicle driven by Swartzendruber lost control and crossed the center line and continued into the woods on the north side of U.S. 2 and came to rest.
Kenneth Swartzendruber and his passenger, Audrey Swartzendruber, 77, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Dean Holstrom and his passenger, Beth Brochhausen, as well the semi driver Raymond Pross, were all uninjured.
U.S. 2 was closed with an official detour in place for seven hours to allow for a complete scene investigation. It was re-opened to vehicular traffic just prior to midnight. The accident remains under investigation. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor at this time.
Troopers from the St. Ignace Post were assisted by the Mackinac County Sheriff Office, Fire Departments from Newton, Garfield, and Seney Townships, as well as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
ST. IGNACE — A fatal two-vehicle accident between two trucks has closed down a portion of U.S. 2.
The accident occurred around 1:30 P.M. on US-2, near Gould City Rd. Two trucks were involved, one of which had a trailer attached.
US-2 will be closed in both directions indefinitely between M-117 and M-77. Traffic will be re-routed Via M-117, to M-28 to M-77 to US-2 for westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic will be re-routed to M-77, to M-28 and back to US-2 via M-117.
Motorists should expect lengthy delays due to traffic congestion.