KALAMAZOO, Mich – A Michigan State Police officer is in critical condition after the car he was driving in rolled over in Van Buren County on Monday night.
Investigators said Dennis Myers, a motor carrier officer at the MSP post in Paw Paw, was off-duty the night of the crash. They said he was driving west on County Road 352 when he slipped off the shoulder. That’s when they said Myers over corrected, causing him to lose control.
Lt. Dale Hinz, also with the MSP Paw Paw post, visited the officer Wednesday morning.
“He looks a little better,” Hinz said. “Some of the swelling has subsided a little bit, but he he’s still in very critical condition.”
When medical personnel arrived on the scene, Hinz said Myers heart had stopped beating. However, EMS were able to revive him before transferring the officer to a Kalamazoo hospital.
Hinz also said his crews arrived on the scene that night, which is something, he said, is taking a toll on his staff.
“When you come upon one of these scenes it’s very difficult for the troopers involved,” Hinz said.
He continued to say that the post has a different feel without Myers. A thin wall separates Hintz’s office from where theMyers does his work..The officer’s chair now sits empty.
“It’s very quiet around the post,” Hinz said. “It can happen to any of us. Unfortunately, it happened to Dennis this time.”
Myers has worked with the MSP since 2001. He began his work in Paw Paw in 2007. Three years later, in 2010 he was honored with the Motor Carrier Officer of The Year Award.
It’s not just the troopers who are impacted by the crash. Rob Brooks, owner of Robs Tire and Auto in Mattawan said he’s been friends with Myers for several years. He said his phone rang at about 1 a.m. the following morning.
“When they called they said that they needed me for a special accident,”Brooks said. “You don’t know who it, is or what it is, until you get there.
When he arrived he learned it was his friend’s Honda Civic that he would be towing away.
“When you know the person it hits home,” Brooks said.
Hinz and Brooks told FOX 17 that Myers is a husband and father of two boys. Brooks also said, the officer has a personality that makes everyone around him smile.
“He’s pretty funny guy,” Brooks said. “He’ll always make you laugh by doing something stupid, saying something stupid. He’ll always make you laugh.”
Brooks also said, that aside from being a good friend, Myers would bring work into his shop. He said during his visits the two would crack jokes in each other’s expense. One of which, involved the officer’s Honda Civic.
“He was pretty proud of this car,” Brooks looked onto the Civic. “This car’s a nice, ugly purple color, here. He liked it because he said he paid $800 for it. He said it was the best car he ever bought for $800 bucks.”
It wasn’t clear by Wednesday night what caused Myers to slip off the side of the road. Police are investigation the crash.
