.jpg)
The scene of Wednesday’s crash on US 10 and Main Street
Village Council to hold town meeting March 3
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
CUSTER — The traffic death of a 17-year-old Mason County Eastern student Wednesday in the village of Custer has many people naturally shaken and upset. But, some local officials are asking why the state hasn’t slowed the speed down on US 10 like it promised. Custer Village President David Sanders said Michigan Department of Transportation had told village council that the speed limit on US 10 through the village would be reduced prior to the beginning of the current school year. Sanders said new signs announcing a 45 mph speed limit were supposed to be installed last September.
Wednesday’s crash involved a 17-year-old driver who was northbound on Main Street (Custer Road) and an eastbound pickup truck on US 10. The crash happened about noon in front of the high school/middle school complex. Another occupant in the teen’s vehicle was injured and transported to Corewell Health Ludington Hospital by ambulance.
Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said he cannot confirm if a reduction in speed would have prevented the crash at this time (the crash is still under investigation). However, he did confirm that he is disappointed that MDOT did not do as it promised. Within hours after Wednesday’s crash, Cole sent an email to Cameron Lipko, traffic and safety engineer, and Suzanne Mulder, assistant operations engineer, both of the MDOT Muskegon office, expressing his disappointment.
Cole said he has pulled crash data from the intersection over the past several years. He said there have been multiple car crashes at the intersection.
“Today we had a 17-year-old student at Mason County Eastern School killed in a traffic crash at the intersection of US10 and Main Street (Custer Road), in front of the MCE High School,” Cole wrote in his email.
“We have been working on speed zone signage and, at the start of this last school year, I had been told funding had been approved. I was further told all the interested parties on MDOT’s side of the table had approved the placement, sign size, etc. for this project to move forward. Now, here we all are months later, nothing has been done, and sadly are reporting this traffic death.
“I am in no way placing blame on MDOT, but we have to do better. The red tape is crazy. Again, I understand you guys were doing your part, but there are far, far too many hands in the process. Please move forward and a much faster pace and get those signs up!”
Cole copied the email to State Senators Jon Bumstead, state representatives Curt VanderWall and Joseph Fox, MCE Superintendent Paul Shoup, MCE board of education member and Custer village trustee Ryan Howe, along with sheriff’s office administrative staff.
“The speed limit there is just too fast,” Sanders said. “There is a school right there and it’s 50 mph. Nobody goes that speed. At one time it was 45 mph. MDOT came in years ago and did a study — they are always doing studies. They determined that the speed should be 50. We wanted it reduced and they made it faster. Just last summer they came in and agreed that the speed should be reduced. We were told that everything would be set up before the beginning of the school year. Now, one of our students is gone.”
Sanders, who has lived in Custer his entire life, said he was involved in a crash at that intersection in 1993, striking a car that pulled into his vehicle’s path.
Village and school officials want answers.
Sanders said the village council is inviting members to speak during its next regular meeting, Monday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at the village municipal building/fire station.
Cole said he met today with Sen. Bumstead who had expressed his concern over the crash. Cole said Bumstead is going to investigate to find out why the speed hasn’t been changed.
To express your concerns to MDOT email Cameron Lipko, MDOT traffic and safety engineer at LipkoC1@michigan.gov. and/or Suzanne Mulder, assistant operations engineer, can be reached at MulderS@michigan.gov.
______________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
If you would like to support MCP/OCP but do not wish to receive daily emails, please consider sending a contribution to any of the above methods or pay by Venmo (@masoncountypress).
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2025, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
