Fatal crash closes U.S. 24 near Grand Rapids; injury accident on detour route

8/28/2010

U.S. 24 near Grand Rapids remains closed late Saturday morning following an overnight crash in which a Fort Wayne, Ind., man was killed.

Kenneth Grieser, 57, was killed when a car in which he was a passenger, driven by Charles Michael Montgomery, 39, of East Lansing, collided with a semi tractor-trailer about 2:44 a.m. Saturday on U.S. 24 near County Road 6C between Grand Rapids and Texas, Ohio, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Montgomery was driving westbound on U.S. 24 when he attempted to pass a westbound semi rig and collided with an eastbound semi driven by Thomas Lee Bruer, 59, of Taylor, Mich., the sheriff's office reported.

Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Bruer both were injured in the crash. Mr. Montgomery was taken by LifeFlight to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition Saturday morning. Mr. Bruer was taken by ambulance to Henry County Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Emergency Management Agency crews were on scene to clean up spilled diesel fuel, the sheriff's office reported.

A second crash occured later in the morning on the detour route, seriously injuring the driver of a commercial vehicle.

A truck failed to negotiate a curve on State Rt. 110 just west of County Road 5A near Grand Rapids, the sheriff's office reported. The garbage hauler landed on its side in a soybean field, according to witnesses.

The driver was taken by LifeFlight to an area hospital, the sheriff's office said.

Details will be published when they become available.

Both accidents are under investigation.