CHIPPEWA COUNTY — A 20-year-old Sault Ste. Marie resident is dead after a two-vehicle crash in Chippewa County on Thursday night.

At approximately 7:59 p.m., Chippewa County Central Dispatch began receiving reports of a truck driving recklessly in the Pickford area heading north toward Sault Ste. Marie, according to a news release.

Witnesses who dialed 911 advised dispatchers that the truck was driving at high rates of speed, running off the road, hitting multiple mailboxes, driving into the opposite lane of traffic nearly hitting oncoming vehicles and at one point, a tire iron was thrown out the window at another vehicle.

Deputies with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office located the truck traveling northbound on M-129 and attempted to stop the vehicle. The truck continued at high speeds in a reckless manner and eventually struck the back of a small passenger car which had pulled off to the side of the road near M-129 and 20th Street.

The impact propelled the passenger vehicle into an electric pole, ejecting the occupant. The truck continued heading northbound, crossing 20th Street and taking out a stop sign and electric pole guide wire before crashing into three parked cars and hitting a building.

The occupant of the passenger vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was taken to War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie with life-threatening injuries.

Ashmun Street was closed for several hours due to the crash, which remains under investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to the incident can contact the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office at 906-635-6355 or by visiting its Facebook page or downloading its mobile app.

The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, the Sault Tribe Police Department, the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department and Chippewa County Central Dispatch. Cloverland Electric and DTE were also called to the scene to stabilize damaged utilities.