Authorities in the Martin-Shelbyville area were busy Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after a couple of traffic incidents.
A vehicle reportedly crashed into the JC Wheeler Public Library in Martin Tuesday at about 11:30 p.m. A library employee said a motorist had mechanical issues with the vehicle before it stuck the library building on 10th Street in the downtown area.
Authorities continue to investigate. The library will be closed Thursday and Friday and Director Alice Kelsey said they hope to reopen Saturday.
The U.S.-131 expressway southbound was shut down Wednesday morning at the Shelbyville exit (No. 59) because of a traffic crash, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The freeway at 124th Avenue was reopened at about 11:20 a.m.
Michigan State Police Wayland Post said it was a partial rollover traffic crash that occurred at 7:15 a.m. on southbound US-131, between 124th and 120th Avenues. It involved three vehicles, one of which was an Allegan County Sheriff’s Department marked unit.
The sheriff’s unit was investigating a semi-truck that previously had run off the roadway and into the median cable barriers. The ALSH unit had its emergency lights activated during the course of the semi-truck crash investigation.
As traffic began to slow for the ALSH unit, the driver of a small pickup truck traveling southbound lost control of the vehicle, ran off the left side of the roadway and eventually partially overturned onto the driver’s side of the vehicle. The pickup struck the ALSH unit as well as another passenger vehicle that was traveling southbound.
The driver of the pickup and other passenger car were checked for injuries at the scene and released. The driver of the ALSH unit was transported to Allegan General Hospital with minor injuries.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department, the Martin Fire Department, Wayland Area EMS, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The incident remains under investigation at this time. For more information, contact the Wayland Post at (269) 792-2213.
(Photo courtesy Alice Kelsey)
