Marquette, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office has updated information about the four-vehicle accident yesterday afternoon in Sands Township that injured nine people.
Around 4:20 p.m., two pickup trucks had stopped in the southbound lane of M-553 to turn left onto Flodin Road.
A third southbound pickup, driven by 26-year-old Justin Sleeter of Ishpeming, failed to stop and rear-ended the second pickup, driven by 57-year-old Steven Wallenius of Alpena, knocking it into the first pickup, driven by 61-year-old Dan Keller of Gwinn.
Keller’s pickup came to rest in the ditch on the west side of M-553.
Wallenius’ pickup was pushed across the centerline into the path of an oncoming pickup truck, driven by 67-year-old Bart Olsen of Marquette, that was towing a trailer full of scrap metal.
The pickup and trailer rolled over and came to rest on the shoulder.
Nine people, including four children from the Wallenius truck, aged 4 to 11, were taken to MGH.
All were treated and released except for Steven and Phyllis Wallenius, who were admitted for observation.
Sleeter was ticketed for Careless Driving and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance.