Minor injuries after semi truck rear-ends pickup on US 31.

Minor injuries after semi truck rear-ends pickup on US 31.

#MasonCountyNews

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. 

FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP — A northbound pickup truck hauling antique vehicles on US 31 was rear-ended Sunday morning by a semi-truck and trailer, causing extensive damage to the two vehicles, along with the antique vehicles that were being hauled.

Roger Jacobson, 63, said he was attempting to make a righthand (eastbound) turn onto Freeman Road, less than a mile from his house. He was returning home after a weekend trip to the Michigan Flywheelers show in South Haven, when his pickup truck, hauling his three antique doodlebugs, was rear-ended by a semi-truck and trailer owned by Quick-Way, Inc. of Ludington, and driven by a 60-year-old Manistee man.

The trailer Jacobson was hauling jackknifed in the road, became disconnected from the pickup and then landed in a ditch on the east side of the road, flipping over on top of one of the doodlebugs. Another doodlebug left the trailer and landed upright on the side of the road while a third doodlebug ended up a few feet from the trailer. Jacobson’s pickup also ended up in the ditch. Jacobson was complaining of some back pain but did not seek transport to the hospital by ambulance. The crash also resulted in a utility pole being knocked down and a guide wire landing across the highway. Jacobson’s 24-year-old passenger, his daughter, was not injured.

The semi-truck and trailer stopped about a half mile north of the scene. The vehicle was reported to have been leaking fuel. The driver was not injured.

Mason County Sheriff Dep. Matt Moss, on scene, said that the driver of the semi-truck was at fault.

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

This story and photograph are copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.