Sheriff: Substance use appears to be factor in fatal traffic crash
Laura Fitzgerald
A Clay Township man died following a traffic crash in China Township Monday.
An eastbound 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Wadhams and Puttygut roads shortly before 4 p.m. and struck the passenger side of a southbound Chrysler 200, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff Department.
The collision caused the Jeep to roll over and the two vehicles came to rest in a field southeast of the intersection.
The driver of the Chrysler, a 27-year-old Detroit man, and his passenger, a 29-year-old Clay Township man, were both extricated from the vehicle due to extensive damage.
The occupants of the Chrysler, as well as the driver of the Jeep, a 32-year-old China Township man, were transported to local hospitals, police said.
The Clay Township man later died of his injuries at the hospital, the sheriff department said.
St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said substance use appears to be a factor in the crash and criminal charges are pending against the China Township man.
The crash remains under investigation.
Tri-Hospital EMS, the St. Clair Fire Department and Michigan State Police also assisted at the scene.
Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.