A Friday afternoon crash in Imlay City resulted in the death of a 69-year-old Macomb County man.
The Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office shared the news in a statement released Monday, October 27, with officers being called to the scene on M-53 in Imlay Township around 3:40 p.m. on Friday, October 24.
Investigators determined that a 2014 Jeep Patriot, being driven north on M-53 by 69-year-old Stephen Sobanski of Washington, Michigan, had crossed over the centerline and into the southbound lane. Despite Sobanski braking, the Jeep collided head on with a south-bound semi truck with a 53-foot trailer, sending the semi into the west ditch while the Jeep came to rest on the east shoulder.
Sobanski was pronounced deceased at the scene, and required extrication from his vehicle by Imlay City Fire and Rescue. A 15-year-old passenger in the Jeep sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and was transferred to Hurley Medical Center in Flint by Lapeer County EMS. The semi’s driver, identified as a 33-year-old man from Ontario, was transported to McLaren Lapeer Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Assisting the sheriff’s office at the scene were the Imlay City Police Department, Imlay City Fire and Rescue, Lapeer County EMS Ambulance Service, Metamora Township Police Drone Unit, Lapeer County Reconstruction Team and the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Victim’s Service Unit.
M-53 was closed until about 9:15 p.m. that evening for wreckage cleanup, performed by Paul’s and Yakes Towing.
