A Groveland Township man died as the result of a one car accident on Monday night. Also in the car was Casey Blays, 18, of Holly, who was rushed to Genesys Health Park. He died on Tuesday afternoon.
Michigan State troopers from Groveland Township responded at about 8:30 p.m. to East Holly Road in Holly Township after a 1996 S-10 pickup skidded on the icy road, struck a tree near the edge of a pond, and slid down an embankment into the water where it flipped over to its roof.
Detective Sergeant Gary Muir of the Michigan State Police said a resident near the pond heard the crash at about 8:10 p.m and told her son, who found the vehicle in the pond at about 8:30 p.m. He called 9-1-1 and the Holly Police Department responded, entered the water and pulled one victim from the vehicle. The other victim was pulled from the vehicle by the North Oakland Fire Authority. Both were transported to Genesys Health Park.
Muir said township resident Dontae Miller, 18, died from drowning and trauma. It was unknown who was driving the vehicle; however, Miller was the owner of the truck. It was unknown if either were wearing safety belts.
‘Based on the information, the victims were in the water for at least 20 minutes,? said Muir.
Muir said the winter weather on Monday night was the cause of four accidents responded to by the Michigan State Police from Groveland Township. In Oakland County, troopers responded to 40 accidents countywide according to the logbook from Oak Park State Police post during Monday night.
The Michigan State Police requested the Oakland County Sheriff Office Dive Team to assist at the scene of the submerged vehicle.
The pond was searched and no other victims were found at the scene.