BLOOMINGDALE, Mich. — The Michigan State Police continues to investigate a two vehicle crash involving a Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputy who was one of five people injured in a Saturday evening collision.
The collision involving the deputy’s cruiser happened around 7:20 p.m. on W. Kalamazoo Street in the Village of Bloomingdale.
Investigators with MSP say the deputy was responding to back up another deputy on another call when the collision took place.
State police say the deputy attempted to pass a westbound 2002 Honda Civic driven by Sarah Jelsomeno, 37, of Bloomingdale, when Jelsomeno attempted to turn left into her driveway and was struck in the driver’s side door.
Jelsomeno’s sons, Nicholas Jelsomen, 17, and Ethan Jelsomeno, 16, were also in the vehicle when the collision took place.
Ethan, a back seat passenger, was flown to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo and is currently listed in stable condition, according to MSP. Nicholas was treated for minor injuries at the scene of the crash. Sarah Jelsomeno was also hospitalized and is currently listed in stable condition at Bronson Hospital.
State police have also identified the officer involved in the collision as Deputy Todd Oliver, a seven-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, who was also featured on FOX 17’s West Michigan’s Most Wanted in early March as a community-nominated Hero of the Week.
State Police investigators say the lights and sirens on Deputy Oliver’s patrol vehicle were active at the time of the collision.
Deputy Oliver was transported to South Haven Community Hospital following the crash and treated for minor injuries and later released.
Tyler Graham, 17, a student intern passenger in Deputy Oliver’s cruiser, was transported to Bronson Hospital with minor injuries and has also since been released.
The crash remains under investigation by the Michigan State Police.
