Three family members die in head-on crash

by Peter Jakey,Managing Editor

A two-vehicle, head-on accident in North Allis Township claimed the life of three Onaway area residents Monday afternoon.

Presque Isle County central dispatch received a 9-1-1 call at 12:12 p.m., that a collision between a pickup truck full of teenagers and a 1991 Oldsmobile, with three occupants in it, collided on Hutchinson Highway, a half mile east of M-211.

All the occupants of the Oldsmobile — driver Nicholas Stuifbergen, 23, Debra Stuifbergen, 51, and Leann Shoulders, 27, — were pronounced dead at the scene. It was Debra Stuifbergen?s birthday and her children were taking her to lunch when the accident occurred.

The Presque Isle County Sheriff?s Department determined that a 16-year-old male, driving a 2004 Ford F-150, with five passengers was driving at a high rate of speed eastbound on Hutchinson Highway when he crossed the centerline, striking the Stuifbergen vehicle, which was traveling west.

Three individuals from the pickup were taken to Northern Michigan Hospital and Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. All the occupants were students from Presque Isle Academy and were

heading to an unknown location for lunch.

?With the speed involved, and by driving left of center, the attention of the driver (16-year-old) was apparently somewhere else,? said sheriff Bob Paschke.

Alpena County Sheriff?s Department and the Michigan State Police assisted the sheriff?s department accident investigation team. They were not clear of the scene until dark.

?It’s very possible that charges could be brought in this incident,? said Paschke. ?Officers are still investigating, and doing follow-up up reports, and once complete, the prosecutor?s office will make a decision.?

Onaway Ambulance, Cheboygan Life Support and Allied Ambulances were dispatched to the scene as well as Onaway Fire Department and Case Township Fire Department. The last fatal accident in the county was in 2006.

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