Sheriff’s office responds to 4 injury crashes at dunes.

Sheriff’s office responds to 4 injury crashes at dunes.

UPDATE: Sheriff Mast reported a fifth injury-causing crash over the weekend after this article was published.

GOLDEN TOWNSHIP — The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office responded to four separate crashes at the ORV area of the Silver Lake State Park over the weekend.

An off-duty doctor resuscitated two men who were unresponsive following a crash Saturday, June 20, shortly after 8 p.m., according to a sheriff’s office accident report. A 29-year-old Traverse City man was driving a 2017 Can-Am Maverick, and a 55-year-old Thompsonville man was a passenger.

The Maverick was southbound as it approached Test Hill “at a high rate of speed and went airborne after cresting the peak.” It then “landed on its front, and upon impact, began to flip end-over-end. The front driver’s side tire fell off of the vehicle, and the vehicle ended up coming to rest on its roof with the front facing towards the west. Both the driver and passenger sustained extensive injuries,” the report states.

“After the initial accident, neither patient was responsive. An off-duty doctor arrived on scene and got them both on their backs and they became responsive. The driver had a cut above his eye and a gash by his ear. The passenger was bleeding from the head and ears. Both the driver and passenger were transported by Life EMS to Hackley Hospital in Muskegon. Dr. David Viviano was the first to start tending to the patients.”

In a separate crash Friday, June 19, shortly before 3 p.m., a 35-year-old Streamwood, Illinois man was injured on a 2017 Can-Am Renegade ATV.

“Unit #1 was southbound in the directional area of the Silver Lake ORV area going over Test Hill,” the report states. “Unit #1 crested the apex of the hill and went downhill on the other side and hit an enbankment causing the rider to slam forward into the handlebars of the ATV. The rider suffered a broken collarbone. The ATV was undamaged.”

A third crash occurred Saturday shortly after 6:30 p.m. A 27-year-old Dearborn Heights man and a 25-year-old Wayne, Michigan woman were injured on a 2020 Polaris RZR side-by-side.

“Vehicle 1 was traveling southbound on the back side of Test Hill in the valley,” the accident report states. “As the vehicle was traveling southbound, a white full-size pickup truck was headed west towards the lake. The pickup then began heading in a northwest direction against the flow of traffic. The pickup truck saw vehicle 1 at the last second and veered away. Vehicle 1 had to slam on its brakes to avoid a collision. Vehicle 1 did a nose dive into a gulley and flipped end-over-end. Vehicle 1 ended up on its driver’s side with the front facing the north. The driver had a hurt knee and head. The passenger was complaining of pain to the thumb, chest and had neck stiffness. Both were checked out on scene by Life EMS, and then released.”

The fourth crash at the dunes occurred Sunday, June 21, just before noon. A 17-year-old Oscoda man was injured while riding a 2019 Yamaha dirt bike, according to the accident report.

“Vehicle #1 was southbound in the directional area and went over a hill too fast. The vehicle came down and ejected the driver.”

Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast urges motorists to safely enjoy the dunes. “Please proceed with caution.”

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