An open 911 line and an Apple Watch that reported a “hard fall” led Montcalm sheriff’s deputies to a man killed in a crash.
That crash was one of three handled by Montcalm deputies over the weekend – including one that injured a Mt. Pleasant man, Sheriff Mike Williams said.
“The fatal crash was initially reported as an open 911 line and, a short time later, the dispatch center received a notification of a ‘hard fall’ from an Apple Watch ,” Williams said.
That notification gave an approximate location of Pakes and Johnson Roads in Montcalm Township.
”While searching the area, a pickup truck was found crashed into a large tree,” Williams said. “A 24-year-old man from Gowen was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Alcohol use and failure to wear a seat belt are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, which occurred in the early-morning hours Saturday.
In the second crash, a 46-year-old Mt. Pleasant man was injured just before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday at the intersection of Mount Hope and Stanton Roads in Ferris Township.
“The investigation revealed a 46-year-old Mt. Pleasant man was travelling north on Mount Hope Road and failed to stop for the stop sign at Stanton Road,” Williams said. “The man continued north at the T intersection and struck a tree.”
He was transported to Sparrow Main Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Alcohol use and failure to wear a seat belt are believed to be contributing factors.
In the third crash, a 19-year-old Carson City man was injured just before 6 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Lake Montcalm and Wyman Roads in Home Township.
He was traveling west on Lake Montcalm Road and failed to stop for the stop sign at Wyman Road, striking another vehicle.
The man had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported to Spectrum Butterworth campus for treatment.
Cell phone use and failure to wear a seat belt were contributing factors, Williams said.
The occupant of the other vehicle sustained only minor injuries.
Assisting at the various crash sites were Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services, Montcalm County Central Dispatch, Day Township Fire, Home Township Fire, and Montcalm Township Fire.