ISABELLA COUNTY, Mich. — A teenager was seriously injured in a crash that involved two trucks Friday night in Isabella County.
At 9:17 p.m. Friday, Isabella County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched to the entrance/exit to southbound U.S. 27 Business near Isabella Road for a crash involving injuries. The investigation showed that a 2009 Ford pickup truck driven by Benjamin Clarke, 19, of Royal Oak was southbound on the business route when Clarke failed to negotiate the curve and lost control before striking high-tension power lines and bringing them partially down into the roadway.
The driver of a Penske truck that was northbound on the business loop did not see the power lines. struck them and the upper portion of the Penske truck was sheared off when it connected with the lines.
Clarke required fire rescue to extricate him from his pickup.
The roadway was closed down for several hours and traffic was rerouted while utilities crews responded to the scene to repair the power lines.
Clarke was transported to McLaren Hospital with numerous severe injuries.
The driver of the Penske truck was not injured.
Isabella County deputies were assisted by the Central Michigan University Police Department, Mount Pleasant Fire Department, Mobile Medical Response and Michigan Department of Transportation.
Police said speed appears to be a factor in this accident.
