6 injured in Sheridan Twp. ORV crash.

6 injured in Sheridan Twp. ORV crash.

#MasonCountyNews.

This story has been updated. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP — Six people were injured (initial report stated seven people) after two off road vehicles collided head-on on North Budzynski Road Wednesday afternoon. The crash occurred about 1 p.m. on a seasonal portion of Budzynski Road in Section 6 of the township, just over a mile north of Fountain Road.

According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, the crash was the result of a southbound Polaris RZR carrying four people cresting a hill, going airborne, and colliding with a northbound Can Am Commander carrying two people, which was climbing the hill on the opposite side.

The occupants of the southbound Polaris included the driver, Carl Martin Simpson, 37 of Free Soil, along with passengers: Amanda Rose Sheldon, 28, of Hazel Park, Jessie Daniel Andelean, 28, of Hazel Park, and David Shawn Paige, 28, of Sterling Heights. All four were transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital with moderate injuries, Cole said.

The occupants of the northbound Can Am were driver Christine Elizabeth Holmes, 56, of Lapeer, and Rozanne Lynn North, 55, of North Branch. Both received serious injuries; Holmes was transported by AeroMed medical helicopter to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Cole said.

The sheriff’s office reported that alcohol does not appear to have been a factor.

Don Herring, who owns property adjacent to the crash scene, said he heard the crash.

“My kids were on ATVs and I initial concern was that they were involved,” Herring said. “My kids were on golf carts, though, and I could tell that these were bigger than golf carts by the sound of the engines.” Herring went to investigate and medical first responders from Fountain Area Fire Department were already on scene. “They got there fast. I was very impressed by that.”

Responding to the scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Area Fire Department, Free Soil/Meade Fire Department, Grant Township Fire Department, Life EMS ambulance, and Munson Healthcare ambulance.

The crash remains under investigation.

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