Driver involved in US 10-31 crash was out of jail on bail.

The Prius crossed five lanes of traffic and ended up in a batch of trees on the north side of US 10-31.

O’Brien

Driver involved in US 10-31 crash was out of jail on bail. 

#MasonCountyNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — A 52-year-old Muskegon man, who is currently out of jail on bail for felony drunk driving, allegedly caused a two vehicle crash on US 10-31 Wednesday morning. The crash occurred about 9:30 a.m. when a Toyota Prius, driven by Patrick David O’Brien, rear-ended a Chevrolet pickup truck in front of Marek Auto Parts, 3473 W. US 10-31, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The male driver of the Chevrolet was making a right turn into Marek’s, Cole said.

Mason-Oceana 911 had received multiple complaints of a reckless driver in a vehicle matching the description of the Prius, moments before the crash, Cole said. At that time, sheriff deputies and Michigan State Police troopers were at another crash at the intersection of US 31 expressway and Pere Marquette Highway.

After the Prius struck the Chevrolet pickup, it crossed all five lanes of US 10-31 and went into a ditch and a patch of trees on the north side of the highway. The driver was reported as pinned in the vehicle and extrication equipment was needed to remove him from the car.

Because the two vehicles were on both sides of the highway, the highway was shut down to two lanes.

On June 15, 2017, O’Brien was arrested June 15 by the sheriff’s office on felony charges of third-offense operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor (OUIL), third-offense habitual offender and second-offense driving while license suspended (DWLS). He had been released from jail on bail of $15,000/10 percent with a preliminary hearing scheduled in Mason County’s 79th District Court on July 5 at 11:15 a.m.

Sheriff Cole said drug paraphernalia was found at the scene in O’Brien’s vehicle. “At this time, we do not know if we are dealing with a medical issue or driving under the influence,” Cole said at the scene.

O’Brien was transported by ambulance to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Cole said. The sheriff’s office was expected to request toxicology exams. The crash remains under investigation.

Responding to the scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Scottville Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, and Life EMS.

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