Scottville teen dies in county line crash.

Scottville teen dies in county line crash.

#MasonCountyNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

RIVERTON TOWNSHIP — A 15-year-old Scottville girl died following a single vehicle crash Sunday evening. The crash occurred on Washington Road, about 1/4 mile east of Stiles Road, about 7 p.m. According to Sgt. Dan Thomas of Michigan State Police, the deceased was a passenger in a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was driven by a 16-year-old Pentwater female. Thomas said the pickup appeared to have been eastbound on Washington Road and flipped over, ending up on all four tires in a field. Washington Road is located on the line between Mason-Oceana counties.

The deceased’s name has not been released pending notification of family.

The passenger was declared dead on the scene. The driver was transported by Oceana County EMS to Mercy Health Lakeshore Hospital and then airlifted by helicopter to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Investigators from MSP and Mason County Sheriff’s Office were on scene trying to determine the cause of the crash. Thomas said he did not know at this time if speed was a factor. However, he said it did not appear that alcohol or drugs were involved. He said it appeared that neither girl was wearing a seatbelt.

Thomas said a witness stated the girls had been in Pentwater earlier in the day at a high school graduation party. Thomas said that the deceased was from Scottville. Mason County Central Superintendent Jeff Mount stated she was a student at Ludington Area Schools, adding that counselors at both MCC and LAS have been activated to talk to students. 

The initial location of the crash caused some confusion with emergency responders. Thomas said the driver called 911 and gave an initial location of US 31 and Monroe Road. He said as emergency personnel were in that location, trying to find the crash, a bystander called 911 who was on the scene on Washington Road. Thomas said that caller did not stay on scene, however. Because of the confusion, emergency units from both Mason and Oceana counties were called.

Responding to the scene were Michigan State Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Hart Fire Department, Pentwater Rescue, Riverton Township Fire Department, Life EMS, Oceana EMS, and Pere Marquette Township Fire Department (ladder truck used for scene documentation).

Thomas said more information will be released upon notification of the deceased’s family.

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