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Victims of US 31 crash say at-fault driver was distracted.
#OceanaCountyNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
A local family traveling in a GMC Envoy pulling a travel trailer escaped injury Sunday afternoon, July 23, after they were struck on southbound US 31 between Pentwater and Hart by an apparent distracted driver.
Mindie Rose VanBoxel said her husband Jason was driving their Envoy with her and their three youngest children, who are ages 4-years-old, 2-years-old, and 3-months-old, as passengers.
“We were driving when we were smashed into from behind, sending the camper fish tailing. It went back and forth several times, then spun us into oncoming traffic, and dragged us backwards before the camper became detached, and the Envoy slammed into it. Thankfully, we stayed upright somehow through it all.” However, the camper, which they borrowed from a family member, came to rest on its side.
The at-fault driver who struck their camper was cited for careless driving, said Michigan State Police Sgt. Adam Clement.
“We believe he was texting and driving,” VanBoxel said of the other driver who was driving a Ford Mustang.
She, her husband and kids were all properly restrained with seat belts and car seats, VanBoxel said.
“We are well, aside from being sore and having a totaled car and camper.”
“We were in the middle of oncoming traffic, and people helped get our Envoy to the shoulder,” she said.
The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m.
“He gets to walk away with a measly ticket, and we could have been killed because of his negligence,” VanBoxel said.
“We live near Silver Lake. We were coming from Scottville and heading home with the camper, as we had reservations to camp for the week at Dunes Harbor. It was going to be our only little ‘vacation’ this year. We have 10 children, and they were really counting on having fun this week.”
The MSP accident report is not yet completed, so the post has no further information at this time.
This story is copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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