An Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy suffered extensive injuries as a result of a head-on collision in Oxford Village the night of July 26.
According to the village police report, Deputy Gary Willemot, 45, was northbound on Washington St. (M-24) when he crossed into the southbound lanes near First St. around 11:23 p.m.
Willemot’s 1994 Ford Aspire collided head-on with a southbound 1995 Dodge Ram driven by a 43-year-old Davison woman.
Willemot ‘was fatigued or fell asleep, which led to (the) accident,? the report stated.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Lt. Al Whitefield, commander of the Oxford Township substation, said prior to the accident Willemot had just finished working a 16-hour double-shift at the county jail and was on his way home.
The 22-year veteran of the sheriff’s department resides in North Branch. Prior to the jail, Willemot was assigned to the Oxford substation.
Following the accident, Willemot was transported to POH Medical Center in Pontiac.
Whitefield said the deputy has had ‘several surgeries? and will have to undergo more. Willemot’s injuries included a broken pelvis and femur, shattered knee caps and a ruptured spleen, according to the lieutenant.
Because of his condition, the deputy is not allowed visitors or phone calls right now, Whitefield said.
The Davison woman was transported to Lapeer Regional Hospital, where, according to village Police Chief Mike Neymanowski, she was treated for ‘very minor? injuries and released.
No citations have been issued at this time. The chief said he’s awaiting the results of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Crash Unit’s investigation of the accident.
Preliminary findings indicate the deputy was not travelling at an excessive rate of speed, the chief said. If that is the final conclusion of the investigation and there are no other factors, Neymanowski said no citation will be issued to Willemot ? which is within his discretion ? because he doesn’t wish to add to the deputy’s considerable suffering.
Neymanowski did stress that such a decision would not be based on Willemot’s position as a deputy. His extensive injuries are the only mitigating circumstance.