A Good Samaritan and state troopers rescued an Athens man from a burning car early Friday in Calhoun County after a two-vehicle collision involving a 14-year-old Battle Creek teen who was driving, police said.
The Athens man, 42, sustained multiple “critical head injuries” and was transported to Bronson Kalamazoo Hospital for treatment. His condition was not reported by the Michigan State Police Fifth District.
The teen boy was the driver of the other vehicle, which witnesses said was occupied by five juveniles. The teen driver and two others, ages 14 and 15, were transported to Bronson Hospital with various broken bone injuries. Two others fled the scene on foot.
Police said they believe the teens had used marijuana.
MSP troopers were dispatched at about 12:25 a.m. Friday to the intersection of M-66 and B Drive South in Leroy Township, south of Battle Creek. Police said the Athens man’s Kia Soul was southbound on M-66 through the intersection of B Drive South when a Ford Explorer, eastbound on B Drive, “disregarded the flashing red traffic signal and struck the Kia Soul.”
Troopers, along with the assistance of an unknown Good Samaritan, pulled the Athens man from his burning vehicle. The man was unconscious but breathing and had a pulse, the MSP said on X.
Police said it appeared he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but alcohol or drug use were not suspected.
The second vehicle, a Ford Explorer driven by an unlicensed 14-year-old boy from Battle Creek, was occupied by five male juveniles, witnesses told police.
Two occupants fled the scene on foot before first responders arrived. A drone was deployed to search the area, but the juveniles were not located, and their identities remain unknown at this time, police said.
The remaining three boys, all from the Battle Creek area, ages 14 and 15, suffered broken ankles, legs and pelvic bones, police said. It was unclear if the boys were wearing seatbelts.
The MSP said it would like to identify and thank the Good Samaritan who assisted troopers in pulling the driver from the burning Kia Soul. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the individual is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Marshall Post.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Leroy Township Fire Department, Newton Township Fire Department, Battle Creek Fire Department Station 6, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Battle Creek Police Department, and Calhoun County Central Dispatch.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Good Samaritan, MSP rescue man from burning car. What happened
Reporting by Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
