Bad Axe woman strikes semi-tractor along M-53 Thursday

(LAPEER COUNTY) — A 57-year old Bad Axe woman escaped serious injury Thursday around 1 p.m. after her vehicle struck a semi truck pulling an unloaded trailer along M-53, south of Peck Road near Brown City. Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputies report that Sanilac County Sheriff Garry Biniecki was the first to arrive at the scene and begin rendering aid. An investigation showed that traffic in that area was restricted to one lane due to work being done by a tree service company. There were warning signs posted and a flag crew located at each end of the work area. At the time of the crash, deputies say northbound traffic on M-53 was stopped while southbound traffic proceeded in the south lane. The Bad Axe woman, traveling north, improperly passed the stopped cars on the right shoulder, reentered the roadway, crossed the centerline and struck the southbound semi-tractor. The woman was found unconscious inside her vehicle. She later came to and was transported to McLaren Lapeer Regional Hospital for observation. The driver of the semi-tractor, a 51-year old Lyons, Michigan man, was not injured. He informed deputies that he had been traveling from Bad Axe after dropping off a load of cattle grain feed. Marlette and Brown City Fire Departments assisted at the scene. Deputies say neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.