Mackinac Bridge temporarily closes after 2-vehicle accident; arrest made for felony reckless driving
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ST. IGNACE -- A serious two-vehicle crash on the Mackinac Bridge early Wednesday morning left four people injured and resulted in the arrest of a 28-year-old man on a felony charge of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function.
The driver believed to be at fault, a 28-year-old man from Jamaica who had been living and working seasonally in the area, was arrested and lodged in the Mackinac County Jail on a charge of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, a felony offense, said Lt. Ben Eckola, Michigan State Police Eighth District public information officer.
MSP is withholding the man’s name pending arraignment.
The bridge was temporarily closed as emergency crews responded to the crash. Eckola said troopers from the St. Ignace post were dispatched to the crash at approximately 2:55 a.m. Wednesday.
MSP’s preliminary investigation indicates that several vehicles passed through the southbound I-75 toll booths before exiting the toll area and quickly accelerating. Police said the vehicles began traveling recklessly at high rates of speed. The crash occurred in an active construction zone on the bridge, where southbound traffic is restricted to a single lane. Investigators said one vehicle struck the rear of another vehicle.
Two people suffered serious injuries in the collision, while two others sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening. All four injured individuals were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
A statement from MightyMac.org reported that the bridge reopened on Wednesday morning, but at that time, northbound traffic was limited to one lane and was backed up.
Investigators also are looking into the actions of other individuals who may have been operating vehicles recklessly on the bridge before the crash. Additional charges could be requested following completion of the MSP investigation and review by the Mackinac County Prosecutor’s Office.
Multiple agencies assisted with the emergency response and investigation, including the Mackinac Bridge Authority, Michigan Department of Transportation, Mackinac County Emergency Management, St. Ignace Police Department, Mackinaw City Police Department, Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office, Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Straits Area EMS, St. Ignace Fire and Rescue, Chippewa County Dispatch and CCE Dispatch.