Man flown to GR following 3 car crash in Free Soil Twp

FREE SOIL TWP. — A 21-year-old Onekama man was flown to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids following a three-car crash on North U.S. 31 Wednesday afternoon.

The accident happened around 3 p.m. when a vehicle driven by Ruth Kovach, 62 of Free Soil, was heading south on U.S. 31 and slowing down to make a left turn near the intersection of Free Soil Road. Her Ford Edge was rear-ended by a Chevrolet Impala driven by Kenneth Graves, 84 of Muskegon. The impact caused Kovach’s vehicle to enter north-bound traffic and striking a Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Thomas Koon, 21, of Onekama.

Koon’s vehicle stopped in a small ditch between the highway and the parking lot of Orchard Market. He was pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Grant Township Fire Dept. rescue unit by using the Jaws of Life. Aeromed helicopter was then called to the scene to transport Koon to a trauma center in Grand Rapids. He was reported to be in stable condition.

Kovach was transported to West Shore Hospital by Life EMS ambulance, apparently with non-life-threatening injuries. Graves did not have any injuries but his wife/passenger, Ann Graves, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Rescue units from Grant and Free Soil/Meade fire departments responded to the scene, along with Life EMS and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Kim Cole, on the scene, said the crash remains under investigation. U.S. 31 between Free Soil and Forest Trail roads has been shut down.