Details of fatal traffic crash in Riverton released. 

Details of fatal traffic crash in Riverton released. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

RIVERTON TOWNSHIP — John Shannon Sayles, 42, of Ludington died Thursday evening as a result of a traffic crash at the intersection of Stiles and Kinney roads. Emergency crews were dispatched to the two vehicle crash at 7:27 p.m.

The crash occurred when a 2009 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Sayles, was traveling eastbound on Kinney Road and failed to stop for the Kinney Road stop sign. The Jeep was struck by a 2019 Chevolet Equinox, driven by Jennifer Ann Ely, 55, of Pentwater, which was traveling southbound on Stiles Road.  The Chevrolet struck the Jeep in the driver side and, as a result, the Jeep left the roadway and overturned two times, ejecting the Sayles, who was the lone occupant, causing fatal injuries. Sayles was not wearing a seatbelt, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

Ely was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt.

The case remains under investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. No drugs or alcohol were factors on Ely and toxicology tests are pending on Sayles. 

Riverton Fire Department, Custer Fire Department, Mason County Victim Services Unit and Life EMS also responded.

The crash closed Stiles Road between Chauvez and Hawley roads for several hours.

The crash is the second crash in Mason County this week that resulted in fatal injuries. The first occurred Monday when two vehicle collided on North US 31 in Victory Township, resulting in two dead. See related story here.

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