Full Notification

****UPDATE****

This is an update on the Hit and Run Motorcycle crash that took place on M-82 near US 131 on 4/7/15.

The driver of the pickup truck, Jeremy Gard, 43 of Stanwood, was arraigned in 64B District Court this afternoon on charges of:

Count 1 - Operating While Intoxicated causing serious injury. Felony 5 years.
Count 2 – Failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment or death. Felony 5 years.

Gard is being held at the Montcalm County Jail on a $10,000 Cash/Surety Bond.


NEWS MEDIA INFORMATION REPORT


SUBJECT OF RELEASE: Truck v Motorcycle Personal Injury Accident

DATE AND TIME: April 7, 2015 at approximately 12:15 a.m.

LOCATION: Church Rd. East of Amy School Rd., Reynolds Township

Montcalm County Sheriff Deputies along with Howard City Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire on Church Road just East of Amy School Road. While extinguishing the fire, a motorcycle was discovered wedged underneath the pickup truck. While still at the fire scene deputies were notified of a personal injury motorcycle crash at the intersection of M-82 and US-131.

A Michigan State Trooper responded to that scene and located a male victim who appeared to have been the operator of a motorcycle, but no motorcycle was located at the scene.

It was determined that the pickup truck involved in the fire had earlier collided with the motorcycle at M-82 near US 131 and continued to drive dragging the motorcycle to the point where it stopped on Church Road and caught fire.

The motorcycle operator, a 58 year old Howard City man, was taken by Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. The motorcycle driver’s condition is not known at this time.

The driver of the truck, a 43 year old Stanwood man, and his passenger were not injured in the crash or subsequent fire.

The driver of the truck was arrested at the scene for suspicion of Operating While Intoxicated, Second Offense and was lodged at the Montcalm County Jail. Additional charges for leaving the scene of a personal injury crash are also being sought. The suspect remains in the Montcalm County Jail.

Montcalm County Deputies were assisted at the scene by Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services, Howard City Fire Department, and the Michigan State Police.