Accident Reconstruction Network > News >September 2008

Accident Reconstruction News Article

Girl, 4, critical following Thursday accident on M-24
Driver of Corvette crosses divided highway, strikes trees

LAPEER TWP -- A young girl was airlifted to a Flint hospital in critical condition following a Thursday evening traffic crash on M-24 north of Sutton Road.

Carmen Lee Wilber, 4, formerly of Oxford, remained in critical condition at press time Friday, said a Hurley Medical Center spokesperson.

The 6:13 p.m. accident occurred as Frank Louis Wilber, 39, and his daughter Carmen, were in the process of moving to the family's new residence in Davison. Frank's parents, Louis William Wilber, 63, and Linda Lee Wilber, 64, of Oxford, were following as Frank drove his 1979 Corvette. Frank's wife was not in the caravan that was heading north on M-24.

"He was moving his historical vehicle from his old house to his new one," said Michigan State Police trooper Denis McGuckin.

Witnesses told McGuckin that Frank's Corvette suddenly left the roadway to the left and moved into the median. It entered back onto M-24, crossed both northbound lanes and left the roadway to the right. The car continued through a ditch and collided into several large trees.

The grandparents witnessed the accident. Louis removed his granddaughter, who was not breathing, from the car. Passing motorist Jeffrey Michael Connel, 41, of Imlay City, stopped and offered help. He began performing CPR until McGuckin arrived and took over medical procedures.

"He held her head while I continued," McGuckin said. "He'd stopped and rendered aid, to give her every chance."

Connel and McGuckin were joined by Metamora Police officer Donald White, Michigan State Police trooper Jason Mercier and Lapeer County EMS, who continued life saving operations. Carmen was transported to Lapeer Regional Medical Center and then air lifted to Hurley Medical Center.

Frank suffered non-life threatened injuries and was transported by Lapeer County EMS to Hurley Medical Center.

"He remembers feeling dizzy, and trying to pull over," McGuckin said. "It's believed a medical problem contributed to the accident. Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors."

State police were assisted at the scene by rescuers from Lapeer Township Police, Metamora Township Police, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department, Lapeer County EMS, Lapeer City Fire & Rescue, Metamora Township Fire Department and Metamora First Responders.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by troopers from the Lapeer Post and the Michigan State Police Third District Traffic Reconstruction Team.