1 person killed in head-on crash in Antrim Co.

ANTRIM COUNTY — On Aug. 21 at 6:19 a.m., a trooper from the Michigan State Police Gaylord Post was on patrol in Star Township on Alba Highway near Olds Road.

The trooper was travelling west behind a commercial box truck when an eastbound SUV driven by a 24-year-old Gaylord man crossed the center line and struck the commercial box truck head on, troopers said.

The driver of the truck, a 54-year-old man from Atlanta, attempted to slow down but was unable to avoid the SUV, troopers said. The SUV driver did not attempt to brake or slow down prior to the crash, they said.

The 24-year-old driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. The 54-year-old truck driver refused medical treatment; however, his employer took him to a local hospital for evaluation and post-crash drug and alcohol screening as per his company’s policy, troopers said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Troopers were assisted by deputies from the Antrim and Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Mancelona and Gaylord Police Departments, Star Township Fire Department, Mancelona Fire Department and Star Township EMS.