BY C.J. CARNACCHIO
Oxford Leader Editor
Two cars carrying five Orion teenagers crashed into a utility pole and tree on Silverbell Road, just west of M-24, around 9:30 a.m. Sept. 22.
According to Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Batzloff, of the Crash Reconstruction Unit, a 1996 white Pontiac Firebird and 1993 red Chevy were travelling eastbound at a ‘high rate of speed? on Silverbell Road when it appears the 19-year-old Orion man driving the Pontiac lost control of his vehicle at the top of the hill.
Initial reports indicated the two cars were racing, but that has not been confirmed, Batzloff said.
It appears the Pontiac driver’s loss of control caused his vehicle and the Chevy, driven by a 16-year-old Orion boy, to travel left-of-center and leave the road, according to Batzloff. As a result, the Pontiac struck a tree, while the Chevy crashed into a utility pole.
The impact to the utility pole resulted in approximately 700 customers losing power, according to Len Singer, spokesman for DTE Energy. Power was restored to all customers by 5:30 p.m. that same day.
On Thursday, Batzloff said it had not yet been determined if the cars impacted with each other at any point.
Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash and everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.
Batzloff said the driver of the Pontiac and his passenger, a 16-year-old Orion girl, were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Orion Township Fire Department.
The driver of the Chevy and his two passengers, a 16-year-old Orion boy and 14-year-old Orion girl, exited their vehicle on their own and were standing outside when emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
All five teenagers were transported to POH Medical Center in Pontiac. Batzloff reported on Thursday that the driver of the Pontiac was in critical, but stable condition, while the other four teenagers were treated and released.
The female passenger in the Pontiac and all three of the teenagers in the Chevy attend Lake Orion High School, according to Batzloff.
The students were not in class at the time of the accident because on Wednesdays school starts later in the morning due to professional development for teachers.