HOLLAND TWP. (WHTC-AM/FM) — A two-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 Saturday afternoon sent two girls from Indiana to the hospital, according to an Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office statement emailed to media.
Police were called to the crash scene, on U.S. 31 north of James Street, just before 3:15 p.m. on June 9, 2018.
Investigators learned that an Indiana woman, Wendi Landford, 44, had been northbound on U.S. 31 when she needed to turn to go south. The turnaround she chose had a light and, according to what witnesses told police, Landford had the green light.
She had to take evasive action, after spotting a vehicle go through the red light. That southbound vehicle was driven by Margaret Arens, 16, according to police.
Landford’s vehicle went off to the west side of U.S. 31, striking a traffic-signal utility pole, police said.
That collison knocked down traffic lights and related power lines across both directions of U.S. 31, which in turn closed the highway in both directions from James to Riley streets.
Landford’s two female passengers, ages 6 and 11, were taken to Holland Hospial with what authorities called non-life-threatening injuries. Everyone involved in the crash had been wearing seatlbelts, according to police.
Police ticketed Arens for disregarding the red traffic signal.
Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputies were aided at the scene by Holland Township Fire Rescue, AMR Ambulance, and Michigan Department of Transportation.
