By Judy Reed

Post Photo by Judy Reed

Blowing snow that created icy roads may have been the cause of a three-car accident that sent four people to the hospital Monday.

“This is the worst stretch we have on this road (M-57) between Lincoln Lakes and Morgan Mills,” said Mickey Davis, Fire Chief in both Courtland and Oakfield Townships. “It always needs to be salted.”

Post photo by Judy Reed

The accident occurred in Oakfield Township, near the intersection of Morgan Mills at about 3:45 p.m., Monday, December 28. According to Sgt. Draves, with the Rockford State Police, a blue 1995 Dodge, driven by Amanda Cooper, 27, of Gowen, was heading westbound on 14 Mile when the car in front of her began to brake. She couldn’t stop in time, and swerved into oncoming traffic, swideswiping an eastbound Pontiac driven by Susan Waller, 30, of Cedar Springs. Cooper’s vehicle then spun and hit an eastbound van driven by Chad Wight, 39, of Rockford. The van then left the roadway and traveled south down an embankment.

Cooper and her 7-year old child, who was restrained in the front passenger seat in a booster seat, were taken to Butterworth Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Wight and his wife Shannon, 40, who was a passenger in the van, were also transported to Butterworth with non-life threatening injuries. What injuries they sustained or what condition they are in was not available at press time. Waller was not injured.

Assisting the MSP at the scene was both Oakfield and Courtland Township Fire and Rescue, Rockford Ambulance, and the Kent County Road Commission.