Newport teen dies after Monroe County crash

11/21/2004

MONROE - A northern Monroe County teenager died in a local hospital yesterday after being injured in a single-car accident.

Phillip D. Gerlach, 16, of Newport, Mich., was pronounced dead at 3:10 a.m. in Mercy Hospital in Monroe.

He had been taken there by ambulance for treatment after a crash that occurred about 2:15 a.m. on Pointe Aux Peaux Road near Brest Road in Frenchtown Township, according to the Monroe County sheriff's office.

The youth had been driving east on Pointe Aux Peaux. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The vehicle went off the south side of the roadway, entered a ditch, then struck a utility pole after becoming airborne.

The car came to a rest on the drivers' side against a utility pole, trapping Mr. Gerlach inside, deputies said.