Hillsdale crash kills 3, injures 2 from Michigan

11/24/2003

HILLSDALE, Mich. — Three men were killed early yesterday and two others were injured after the car in which they were riding struck a tree, authorities said.

The driver, Brian Ellis, 23, of Hillsdale, and two of his passengers, Samuel Myers, Jr., 24, of Osseo, Mich., and Zachariah McCarty, 23, of Hillsdale, died in the wreck. Joel Avery, 32, of Hillsdale was listed in critical condition yesterday in Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, while his wife, Theresa Avery, 23, was in stable condition in Hillsdale Community Health Center.

Hillsdale County sheriff's deputies said the accident occurred at 1:59 a.m. on Broad Street, north of Indiana Court in Hillsdale. Deputies said Mr. Ellis was driving at an excessive rate of speed when he lost control of the car.

The accident remains under investigation.