2 hurt seriously when van crashes on U.S. 223

1/10/2010

Two people were critically hurt and others suffered minor injuries when a van from a church in Toledo crashed Sunday afternoon on southbound U.S. 223 in Monroe County just north of the Ohio line.

The accident closed the highway 2 hours and backed up traffic for three miles, said troopers from the Monroe post of the Michigan State Police.

Members of First Alliance Church, Toledo, were returning from an outing in Michigan when the accident occurred about 2:30 p.m.

When troopers arrived on the scene, the van was in a ditch. Ten people were riding in the van at the time of the accident.

Preliminary reports indicate that the driver fell asleep, troopers said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, troopers said.

Police were unsure of the condition of the passengers who suffered serious injuries, but said they were admitted to the intensive care unit at Toledo Hospital.

Other passengers were taken to the hospital, but were released after treatment, troopers said. They declined to release the names of the injured.