Speeding causes crash.

#OceanaCountyNews #RothburyNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

GRANT TOWNSHIP — Two people were transported to an area hospital following a two-vehicle crash on South Water Road at West Wilke Road near the Double JJ Resort Tuesday, July 12, at approximately 11 p.m.

According to the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report, both drivers involved in the Rothbury-area crash admitted that they were speeding.

OCSO Sgt. Scott Bosley, who was on scene, said the injuries are non-life-threatening.

Tyler Michael Rutzen, 23, of Shelby, was driving a 1998 Chevy Lumina, which crashed into a power pole; flipped over; and came to rest on its side. Rutzen was injured after being ejected from the Lumina, according to the report. Riding in the Lumina was Brianna Lee Vorhees, 21, of Whitehall, who was also injured in the crash.

Joel Micah Howe, 18, of Rothbury was driving a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup. Riding in the pickup was Isabelle Cathleen Basara, 18, of Warren, Michigan. Neither Howe or Basara were injured, according to the report.

“Vehicle 1 (Rutzen) was traveling southbound, Vehicle 2 (Howe) was passing vehicle 1. Vehicle 2 cut vehicle 1 off colliding with the front of vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 then went off the roadway right re-entered the roadway crossing the roadway and colliding with a power pole in the east ditch. Both drivers advise they had been involved in driving too fast,” the report states.

Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, according to the report. Neither driver has been cited yet.