Midland Man Charged After Bay City Road Rage Crash and Punch
File photo: West Thomas Street in Bay City. © Grab and KartaView contributors (dylan-masko), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and color-adjusted; not the July 2026 crash scene. This adaptation is shared under the same license.
A 20-year-old Midland man has been charged after a Bay City crash and post-crash punch left another driver hospitalized with significant injuries.
The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on Thomas Street. Dash-cam video provided to WNEM shows a white SUV attempting to cross traffic before a gray car traveling in the left lane strikes it.
Both drivers got out after the collision. Bay County Prosecutor Mike Kanuszewski told WNEM that the gray-car driver, Rowen Crotzer, tried to get the other vehicle to stop as it moved forward. Prosecutors said Crotzer then punched the SUV driver, who fell to the pavement. Crotzer reportedly told police he did not see the other driver when the collision happened. He said he thought the man might hit him after the crash and that he did not intend to cause the injuries.
Bay City Public Safety said the SUV driver was taken to a hospital with significant injuries. The driver's name and current condition have not been released.
Crotzer was arraigned Thursday on one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder. His bond was set at $10,000 cash or surety with 10 percent allowed, WNEM reported.
Legal Meaning of the Bay City Assault Charge
Under MCL 750.84, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder is a felony. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. A charge is an accusation, and the reported facts do not establish guilt.
The crash and the alleged punch can raise different legal and insurance questions for the injured driver. Michigan Legal Center's guide to injuries caused by a road-rage driver explains those issues in more detail.
Get Help From Michigan Legal Center
If you were injured in a Michigan road-rage crash or post-crash assault, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact us for a free consultation.