March 22nd, 2010 | 
Author: ELMIRA TOWNSHIP, MI – A Michigan man died Thursday after a head-on truck accident in Otsego County, Michigan. The collision between the pick up truck and the 18 wheeler happened on US Route 32 near Hallock Road in Elmira Township. The area is in the central north section of the state, 183 miles north of Lansing and 125 miles south of Sault Sainte Marie, MI.
The impact of the truck accident caused the 18 wheeler to rollover on the north side of US 32 and the contents of the trailer were thrown all over the shoulder of the highway. The crash damaged the gas tank on the larger semi truck and diesel fuel spilled onto the roadway.
At around 11:40 a.m. Thursday morning 21 year old Timothy L. Luchenbill of Kalkaska, MI was driving a utility pick up truck for Vance Communications east on US Route 32. As Mr. Luchenbill drove through Elmira Township he apparently lost control of his vehicle as he was rounding a curve on the highway just west of Hallock Road.
Mr. Luchenbill crossed over the center dividing line of US 32, directly into the path of a semi tractor trailer truck driven by 59 year old Willard Howe of Otsego County. Mr. Howe was driving the 18 wheeler truck hauling a load of scrap metal for A & L Iron and Metal Company based in Gaylord, MI.
The truck driver was unable to stop or maneuver his semi trailer truck to avoid a collision and hit the smaller utility truck head-on in the westbound lanes of the highway.
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The impact of the truck accident caused the 18 wheeler to rollover on the north side of US 32 and the contents of the trailer were thrown all over the shoulder of the highway. The crash damaged the gas tank on the larger semi truck and diesel fuel spilled onto the roadway. The collision also resulted in considerable damage to both vehicles, specifically the front section of the Vance Communications utility pick up truck.
Elmira Township Fire and EMS personnel quickly responded to the scene of the truck accident. The driver of the Vance Communications utility truck, Mr. Luchenbill, suffered serious injuries in the head on collision and was trapped in his mangled vehicle. Otsego County Heavy Rescue had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate him. When they reached him they found that his injuries were fatal and he likely died upon impact. The young man was pronounced dead at the scene of the truck accident.
The A & L driver, Mr. Howe, sustained non life threatening injuries in the truck accident. He was stabilized at the scene and then transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord. His injuries were minor and Mr. Howe was treated and released Thursday afternoon.
Michigan State Police Troopers from the Gaylord Post also responded to the deadly truck accident site. They shut down both lanes of US 32 between Camp Ten Road and Alba Road. MSP troopers from the Petoskey and Traverse City posts assisted at the accident site.
STREET VIEW
A HazMat team was brought in to clean up the spilled diesel fuel off the roadway. A & L Iron sent in a crew to remove the cargo of scrap metal that fell onto the highway when the 18 wheeler rolled over. Officials with Michigan Department of Transportation and the Otsego County Road Commission were also at the site.
It would take several hours to clear the truck accident scene, and both lanes remained closed until about 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.
MSP troopers do not believe that speed or intoxicating substances were factors in the fatal truck collision.
No charges have been made at this time and the accident remains under investigation
For more information about Michigan trucking laws, truck injury causes and victims rights, contact an experienced Michigan truck accident lawyer. For a free initial consultation, contact nationwide truck accident attorneys, Gordon, Elias & Seely LLP, for expert advise.
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