Three injured when SUV, semi collide

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

WEARE TOWNSHIP — Three people were transported to the hospital after an SUV and a semi truck hauling cherry juice crashed Thursday afternoon, July 17, at Oceana Drive and Monroe Road, according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report.

“There were several injuries, but we were very lucky in that there were no fatal injuries, and the injuries that were suffered were relatively minor considering the severity of the crash,” said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. “The semi was loaded with cherry juice.”

Chester Leon Dombrowski, 80, of Beecher, Illinois was driving a black 2012 Cadillac SRX. Dombrowski, and his passengers — wife Victoria Jean Dombrowski, 80, and Alicia Victoria Todd, 10 — were all transported to Trinity Mercy Hospital in Muskegon by Life EMS, according to the report. 

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

Dombrowski did not yield to the semi truck, according to a witness. He suffered “possible vertebral fracture and internal injuries,” the report states. The 1996 Peterbilt 379 semi truck hauling juice for Trent’s Transport Inc. was driven by Trent Wayne Freeman, 56, of Traverse City. Freeman was not injured in 4:25 p.m. crash.

“Chester Dombrowski was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of West Monroe Road and Oceana Drive in the eastbound lane in his 2012 Cadillac SRX,” states the report. “Trent Freeman was southbound on North Oceana Drive in his 1996 Peterbilt 379. Witness Galen Bowman stated he watched Chester start driving eastbound and did not yield to Trent. Trent stated he turned to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision, but his truck struck Chester’s Cadillac on the left side. Chester’s vehicle spun as it was struck in the front left, which caused its rear left side to hit the right side of Trent’s truck. Trent’s truck continued southbound, and ran off the road to the left and overturned, coming to rest on its right side. The trailer remained upright, but still connected to the truck. Chester’s vehicle came to rest in the ditch to the southwest of the intersection.”

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