(HURON COUNTY) – A 19-year old man is counting his lucky stars after he was able to get out of his vehicle that was submerged in the Pigeon River Monday afternoon. Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said Drake Bletl was traveling on Weale Road, west of Caseville Road, when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel around 4 p.m. and drove through the guardrail on Weale Road, landing in the river. Responding deputies told Hanson Bletl was able to break out the back window of the 2006 Chrysler Sebring and to escape the wreckage. He was not injured in the incident. Due to the river being full and flowing fast, due to recent rain fall and snow melt, as well as having multiple downed trees in the area, no divers were willing to dive to get the car out. Divers were expected to retrieve the car Tuesday. Officials notified EGLE – formerly the DEQ, of the vehicle being in the water.
(HURON COUNTY) – No injuries were reported as a result of a two-vehicle collision Monday afternoon near Bad Axe. According to the Huron County Sheriff Department, the drivers of both vehicles were checked by ambulance personnel at the scene following the rear end collision north of Bad Axe around 4 p.m. Deputies were called to the scene on M-142, east of Thomas Road, where 20-year old Brandon Gemmell of Elkton had stopped to make a turn into a private driveway. 24-year old Samantha Krozek struck his pick up from behind and told deputies she may have been a distracted driver, looking at her phone prior to impact. Krozek said when she looked back up to the roadway, she could not avoid the collision.
(TUSCOLA COUNTY) – A 30-year old man from Silverwood had his day in court earlier this week, hearing multiple firearm charges that have been field against him, including careless discharge of a firearm causing injury or death. Andrew Brill stood mute as he faced the charges and will be back in court next month. He has been held in the Lapeer County jail on a $10,000 dollar bond since the hunting incident last fall when he accidentally shot his best friend while unloading a 12 gauge shotgun. Brill, and two friends, were hunting squirrels in Lapeer County when after returning to their vehicles, Brill accidentally shot Michael Duby of Lake Orion in the groin while unloading his gun. Duby was treated at a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
(LAPEER COUNTY) – In a rather unique twist to fundraising, the Deerfield Township fire department in Lapeer County is looking for two-man teams to go squirrel hunting February 16th. So far, over 100 teams have signed up for the event, drawing people from all over the State. The event will include a breakfast at the fire hall, near the intersection of Burnside Road and M-24, at 6 a.m. to start the day and then the teams will divide and conquer, competing for top prizes for the largest squirrels. Funds raised at the event will be used for new equipment for the fire department.
