Petoskey, MI : Man dies in U.S. 31 crash north of Petoskey Tuesday, October 18, 2016

A two-vehicle head-on traffic crash on U.S. 31 north of Petoskey Tuesday claimed the life of one of the drivers and injured the other.

The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. on U.S. 31 in Bear Creek Township just northeast of the Oleson’s Food Store.

The crash left debris scattered across a more than 100-foot section of the highway between the two vehicles.

One vehicle came to rest on the southbound shoulder of the road while the other vehicle came to rest a short distance away on the northbound shoulder of the road.

According to a news release from Emmet County Sheriff Pete Wallin issued today, Wednesday, witness reported that a northbound 2015 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Derrick Rasch, 49, of Unionville began drifting left, crossed the center turn lane and traveled into the southbound lane, impacting a southbound vehicle head on.

The southbound vehicle, a 2008 Volvo station wagon was driven by Samantha Cameron, 18, of Pellston.

Rasch was pronounced dead at the scene. Samantha Cameron was transported to McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital by Emmet County EMS.

Firefighters from the Resort/Bear-Creek Fire Department had to use extrication tools to free the driver who died from the wreckage of the vehicle he was driving.

U.S. 31 from Shaw Road to Barney Road was closed for more than three hours following the crash while emergency crews attended to the scene and deputies conducted their investigation.

Crews from the Emmet County Road Commission also assisted at the scene.

Source :
Man dies in U.S. 31 crash