A Clarkston man died during surgery on May 7, after he was the passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a six-car pile-up at Lapeer and Clarkston Roads on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Donald Allen Moore, 77, of Clarkston, died at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where he was taken by ambulance after being extricated from the vehicle he was riding in by the Orion Township Fire Department.
The accident occurred westbound Clarkston Road, west of M-24, at 2:57 p.m. on May 7, when a 75-year-old Clarkston woman attempted to make a prohibited left turn from Lapeer Road.
According to the OCSD, the woman was driving a Chevrolet Suburban SUV, and was attempting to turn from northbound Lapeer, south of Clarkston, to go westbound on Clarkston Road, from a lane marked for authorized vehicle use only.
Moore was the woman’s front-seat passenger, and she ran the red light while turning left, and was struck by a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by a 55-year-old Commerce woman traveling south on Lapeer Road.
After striking the Chevrolet, the Nissan ran off the roadway to the right, striking a light pole and the building housing the Limelight Salon at the northwest corner of Clarkston and Lapeer.
The Chevrolet went left of center, into the eastbound lanes of Clarkston Road, striking four vehicles that were sitting at the red light.
None of those drivers were injured, and all refused medical treatment at the scene.
The driver of the Nissan was transported to POH, where she was treated and released. The Clarkston woman driving the Chevrolet was transported to POH, where the OCSD said she was stable and still receiving treatment.
Moore was transported to Royal Oak Beaumont, where he later died in surgery at 5:48 p.m.
The OCSD Crash Reconstruction Unit is still investigating the accident, but said all of the people involved were wearing seatbelts, and that alcohol did not appear to be a factor.
The OCSD said the driver of the Chevrolet may have been having a medical problem prior to the crash, which may be a factor.