Passenger killed in related crashes in Marengo Township
A passenger died and two drivers were injured in two related crashes early Saturday.
Calhoun County Sheriff's Office deputies responded about 3:47 a.m. Oct. 31 near B Drive North and 20 1/2 Mile Road in Marengo Township.
The first vehicle left the road and hit a tree before being hit by another car a short time later.
Deputies found the first driver pinned beneath the vehicle but conscious and able to communicate. The driver was taken to Henry Ford Hospital in Jackson with serious injuries that weren't life-threatening.
A passenger in the back seat was unresponsive. Deputies and Marengo Township firefighters attempted lifesaving measures, and Marshall Ambulance took over medical care. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other driver had minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
"The cause of the initial crash remains undetermined," the sheriff's office said. Both crashes remain under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Ben Hess at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.
Who is responsible when one crash leads to another?
More than one driver can share responsibility when negligent driving contributes to an injury or death in multiple crashes. The order of the crashes alone doesn't establish fault.
Michigan's MCL 600.2957 requires courts to allocate fault person by person, including people who aren't named in the lawsuit. In an ordinary negligence case, each responsible defendant generally pays only that defendant's share of the damages.
That makes it important to establish what each driver did and how each impact contributed to the injuries. Vehicle damage, witness accounts and medical evidence may help separate the effects of successive impacts. Michigan Legal Center's guide to multi-vehicle and chain-reaction crashes explains how that sequence can affect responsibility.
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Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles car accident, serious injury and wrongful death claims.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a crash, Contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about your legal options.
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