Howell Woman, 45, Critically Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash at M-59 and Mallard Pond Drive in Oceola Township

By the TruckCrash News Desk

What Happened

A 45-year-old Howell woman was critically injured Saturday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highland Road — M-59 — and Mallard Pond Drive in Oceola Township, according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash happened at about 4:30 p.m., WHMI reported. Deputies say the woman was driving a 2010 Ford Focus and turning left from Mallard Pond Drive onto Highland Road when she failed to yield to a 2020 Kia Forte that was traveling westbound, and her car was struck broadside.

The woman was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor with critical injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. The Kia’s driver, a 57-year-old Howell man, was not injured, and his passenger, a 54-year-old woman, was not hurt and declined medical treatment at the scene.

Investigators said speed and alcohol have been ruled out as contributing factors, while seatbelt use remains under investigation. Reporting: WHMI 93.5, with information from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

The Investigation: What Happens Next

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau is continuing to investigate. The Howell Area Fire Department and Livingston County EMS assisted at the scene, and the roadway was closed for approximately three hours while deputies documented the crash and crews cleared the intersection.

With speed and alcohol already ruled out by investigators, the remaining questions center on sight lines, traffic gaps and seatbelt use — details that will be laid out in the final crash report.

The Legal Picture

How are injuries from an intersection crash covered in Michigan? Michigan’s no-fault system means an injured driver’s own insurer generally pays personal injury protection benefits — medical care and a portion of lost wages — regardless of who caused the crash. Our guide to Michigan no-fault insurance explains the basics.

What does a “failure to yield” finding mean for a claim? Fault still matters for claims that go beyond no-fault benefits, such as claims for serious impairment of body function. How fault findings interact with settlement value is covered in our page on accident settlements.

What if injuries turn out to be long-lasting? Critical injuries often involve months of treatment, and Michigan law sets deadlines for claims and benefit applications, so families dealing with a serious intersection crash usually benefit from understanding the process early.

Nothing in this section assumes fault by anyone involved in this crash. The investigation is ongoing, and all findings will come from the investigating agencies.

This Stretch of Road

M-59, known locally as Highland Road, is the main east-west artery across northern Livingston County, linking Howell with Hartland and the US-23 corridor. Through Oceola Township it is a high-speed highway lined with subdivision entrances like Mallard Pond Drive, a combination that requires side-street drivers to judge fast-moving gaps in traffic when turning left.

Left-turn, failure-to-yield collisions are among the most common serious intersection crash types on divided and undivided highways alike, because the striking vehicle typically hits the turning car’s door area at highway speed. Earlier this year, four people were hospitalized after another crash on M-59 at Musson Road in neighboring Oceola Township, a reminder of how demanding this corridor can be.

If You Saw This Crash

If you were on Highland Road near Mallard Pond Drive around 4:30 Saturday afternoon and saw the crash or the traffic conditions leading up to it, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau is investigating and witness accounts can help complete the picture, particularly on questions like seatbelt use and traffic gaps.

More on This Crash

• Howell Woman Critically Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash on M-59 in Oceola Twp — WHMI 93.5