GIRARD TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – A weekend traffic accident in Branch County that Michigan State Police say was a caused by a distracted teenage driver sent 3 people to the hospital, including two with serious injuries. The collision occurred around 8:20 p.m. Saturday in Girard Township.
Troopers say a 16-year old girl behind the wheel traveling south on River Road failed to obey the stop sign at the intersection with Union City Road and collided with an east bound car. They say the teen was distracted by the use of her navigation device. Both vehicles ran off the road with the car headed east rolling over, ejecting the 23-year old male driver, who State Police say wasn’t wearing his safety belt.
The 16-year old was treated and released from the Community Health Center of Branch County while a passenger in the vehicle suffered a broken leg and was later transferred from CHC to Kalamazoo for additional treatment.
The other driver was flown by AirCare from Coldwater to Kalamazoo for treatment. State Police say a nurse from Portage stopped at the accident scene to provide aide. Also assisting at the crash site were the Coldwater Fire Department and Life Care Ambulance.
