Names released from Sunday fatal crash.

Names released from Sunday fatal crash.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Lori Nicole Henkaus, 36, of Fountain, passed away Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, as a result of injuries suffered in a two vehicle crash at the intersection of US 31 and Johnson Road (along the Scottville bypass). Henkaus was driving a Chrysler Town & Country minivan east on Johnson Road and, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection. Her vehicle was struck broadside by a Ford Escape driven by Thomas Jonathon Bowitz, 41, of Hartford, Wis. Bowitz received serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

The crash was the second traffic fatality in Mason County over the weekend. The first was on Friday and involved a motorcyclist from Rothbury who struck a deer and a car (see story here).

Henkaus was pinned inside the vehicle. Personnel from Custer Fire Department and Ludington Fire Department used rescue equipment to extricate her from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Henkaus’s 19-year-old passenger, Brianna Mavis-Marie Bovee of Fountain, received serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. The passengers of the Ford Escape also received serious injuries and were transported to Ludington hospital. They included Polly Jean Markeland, 38, and Jayden Paul Markeland-Bowitz, 15, both of Hartford, Wis.

US 31 between US 10 and North Scottville Road was closed during the investigation and opened again about 3 p.m.

Emergency units responding included Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Scottville Fire Department, Custer Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, and Life EMS. Mason County Victim Services Unit responded to the hospital to counsel family members of the victims.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Team.

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