Frenchtown accident kills Newport woman, hurts 1

10/7/2001

MONROE — A Newport, Mich., woman was killed and at least one other person hurt in a car-sports utility vehicle accident Friday night on Pointe Aux Peaux Road, east of Elm Street, in Frenchtown Township, about three miles northeast of here, the Monroe County sheriff's office said.

Sharol Ann Balentine, 33, who was thrown from the car she was driving, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kathy Jane Ward, 17, of Newport, one of two passengers in Ms. Balentine's car, was in fair condition last night in Mercy Memorial Hospital, Monroe. It was unclear last night whether Stanley Leroy Miller, Jr.,, 22, also of Newport, the other passenger, was hurt. Joshua Wayne Earls, 22, of Monroe, the driver of the SUV, was not hurt.

Ms. Balentine's car was westbound on Pointe Aux Peaux about 10:55 p.m. when it went off the roadway, came back onto the roadway, crossed the center line, and was struck by Mr. Earls' SUV, deputies said.