MSP releases names of victims of Sunday crash.

MSP releases names of victims of Sunday crash.

#MasonCountyNews.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

RIVERTON TOWNSHIP (Mason County) — Michigan State Police Hart Post has released the identity of the 15-year-old Scottville girl who died following a single vehicle crash Sunday evening. She has been identified as Christa Lynn Carrier, a Ludington High School student. The other victim of the crash, Mercedy Mae Sayles of Pentwater, was listed in stable condition at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. The crash occurred on Washington Road, about 1/4 mile east of Stiles Road, about 7 p.m. According to Sgt. Dan Thomas of Michigan State Police, Carrier was a passenger in a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was driven by Sayles. Thomas said the pickup appeared to have been eastbound on Washington Road and flipped over, ending up on all four tires in a field. Washington Road is located on the line between Mason-Oceana counties.

Carrier was declared dead on the scene. Sayles was transported by Oceana County EMS to Mercy Health Lakeshore Hospital and then airlifted by helicopter to Grand Rapids.

Investigators from MSP and Mason County Sheriff’s Office were on scene trying to determine the cause of the crash. Thomas said he did not know at this time if speed was a factor. However, he said it did not appear that alcohol or drugs were involved. He said it appeared that neither girl was wearing a seatbelt.

Thomas said a witness stated the girls had been in Pentwater earlier in the day at a high school graduation party.

The initial location of the crash caused some confusion with emergency responders. Thomas said the driver called 911 and gave an initial location of US 31 and Monroe Road. He said as emergency personnel were in that location, trying to find the crash, a bystander called 911 who was on the scene on Washington Road. Thomas said that caller did not stay on scene, however. Because of the confusion, emergency units from both Mason and Oceana counties were called.

Responding to the scene were Michigan State Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Hart Fire Department, Pentwater Rescue, Riverton Township Fire Department, Life EMS, Oceana EMS, and Pere Marquette Township Fire Department (ladder truck used for scene documentation).

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