Hawley Road re-opened; accident victim at hospital

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

EDEN TWP. — Fire department personnel continue to be on the scene of a tanker truck rollover accident on East Hawley Road. Emergency crews were initially called to the scene around 1:20 p.m. See related story. 

Edward Graber, 76, of Hart was driving west on Hawley Road when the semi-truck his was driving rolled onto its side in the curves about a quarter mile west of Hawley Road.

Crews from Custer and Scottville fire departments used electric extrication tools to remove Graber from the semi-tractor. Personnel on the scene said he did not have life-threatening injuries but his foot was stuck, causing a delay in the extrication. By 2:50 p.m. Graber was removed from the vehicle and transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital by Life EMS ambulance.

Graber was driving truck for Oomen Brothers Farms of Hart. He, along with other semi-drivers were hauling the silage from a pig farm off of South Custer Road to a field near west Washington Road near Pere Marquette Highway. A bystander, who works with the driver, said the roundtrip normally takes him about an hour.

Also called to the scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Mason County Road Commission and Mason County Emergency Management.

Hawley Road between Custer and Ordway roads remained closed until 6 p.m. as personnel worked to remove the truck and cleanup the area.