OVID TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – Two vehicles passing an Amish buggy in Branch County caused a collision between the car and the pickup resulting in injuries in the crash yesterday morning. Michigan State Police say a Nissan Sentra and a GMC Sierra pickup were both northbound on Wood Road when the accident happened shortly after 8 am Wednesday.
Troopers say the car was the first vehicle to pull into the left lane to get around the buggy and then attempted to turn left onto Dubendorf Road when it was struck broadside by the pickup, which had also entered the left lane to pass the buggy. The driver of the Sentra was identified as 68-year old Jerry Owens of Algansee Township while behind the wheel of the pickup was 17-year old Brandon Rifenburgh of Coldwater.The teenager escaped injury while Owens was taken by Life Care Ambulance to the Community Health of Branch County, where he was treated and released.
Both drivers were cited and issued tickets by the State Police, who were at the scene of the crash for about an hour. Also responding to the accident were the Lakeland Fire Department and the Branch County Sheriff’s Department.
