3 injured in head-on collision in Luce County

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Michigan State Police investigated a personal injury crash in Pentland Township of Luce County on December 12.

At approximately 3:26 p.m., troopers and officers from the MSP Sault Ste. Marie Post and deputies from the Luce County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle head-on collision on M-117 near the Luce and Mackinac County line.

The northbound vehicle was driven by Eric Nalette of Newberry. The southbound vehicle was driven by Derek Orban and also occupied by Jeramie Schultz, both of Alpena. Schultz was able to exit the vehicle he was in, but both Nalette and Orban were trapped inside their vehicles.

Nalette and Schultz were responsive when troopers arrived but sustained injuries. Orban was unresponsive and appeared to have potential life-threatening injuries. All three men were transported to U.P. Health Systems in Marquette for treatment. Orban remains in critical condition.

M-117 was closed to through traffic for approximately five hours while the crash was investigated. The crash remains under investigation at this time.

The Michigan State Police were assisted on scene by the Luce County Sheriff’s Office, Luce County EMS, Garfield Township EMS and Fire, Michigan Department of Transportation, MSP St. Ignace Post, Luce County Auxiliary, and Great Lakes Towing.