Like Local 3 News on Facebook:
GOULD CITY — Police have released more information on the multi-vehicle accident that killed two people on US-2 near Gould City.
The Michigan State Police are reporting, via news release, that at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 31, troopers responded to the crash on US-2 near H33 in Mackinac County.
Officials say traffic was moving slowly on eastbound US-2 when an empty semi/tanker driven by Raymond Pross, 70, of Pinconning, Mich., approached the slow moving traffic and collided with a passenger car.
The passenger car, driven by Kenneth Swartzendruber of Traverse City, was forced into a pickup truck driven by Dean Holstrom of Minnesota.
The release says Holstrom’s vehicle was forced off onto the right shoulder of the road. The semi and the vehicle driven by Swartzendruber lost control and crossed the center line – and continued into the woods on the north side of US-2 when they came to a stop.
Kenneth Swartzendruber, 76, and his passenger Audrey Swartzendruber, 77, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene according to the report.
Dean Holstrom and his passenger, Beth Brochhausen, as well the semi driver Raymond Pross, were all uninjured.
US-2 was closed with an official detour in place for seven hours to allow for a complete scene investigation. It was re-opened to vehicular traffic just prior to midnight.
The accident remains under investigation. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor at this time.
Troopers from the St. Ignace Post were assisted by the Mackinac County Sheriff Office, Fire Departments from Newton, Garfield, and Seney Townships, as well as the Michigan Department of Transportation.
