4 Killed on Us 31

Thursday began like most Thursdays. Up early and off to work. My office is on the second floor, overlooking a busy highway. US 31 runs from Petoskey to Charlevoix, Michigan. Most days I have my window open to enjoy the fresh air and to cool the office a bit. This Thursday was no exception. The day began with rain, which again is no different from most days in Northern Michigan. The rain ended around mid-day, so my window was wide open. A little after four in the afternoon I heard a loud and long rumble, followed by a crashing noise. Surprised and not quite sure if it was thunder, I looked up to the window. To my horror, I realized that what I heard was not thunder. It was an awful accident that has ended the lives of four wonderful young men.

All in the same vehicle, Daniel Firman, 25 along with Aaron and Christian Hunley 16 & 18 died at the scene. All three were from Gaylord, Michigan and were in the area working. A fourth occupant, 17 years-old Drew Erickson of Elmira, Michigan, died the following day. Reports are that Daniel Firman and his wife are expecting their first child in five months.

This accident involved four vehicles, a passenger car, the pickup truck the four young men were traveling in, as well as two semi tractor-trailers. According to reports at the scene, an unidentified driver in the passenger car crossed the centerline. This caused a horrific chain of events.

The passenger car crossed the centerline into the path of a semi, driven by Kelley McCord, 47 years-old, of Prescott, Michigan. Mr. McCord swerved left to avoid striking the car and drove into the path of the pickup truck driven by Mr. Firman. The passenger car, whose drivers name has not yet been released, was hit by a second semi driven by George Gemski, 49 years-old of White Cloud, Michigan.

There has been no information released on the driver of the car; his name has not been released, along with his condition and what caused him to cross the centerline of this highway. Everyone jumps to assume that the driver was texting on a cell phone or playing with his radio, perhaps he was drinking. Was he trying to pass the car ahead of him? An extremely unfortunate series of events, we all pray that none of these were the case; that not all of these young people died because of the irresponsibility of one individual.

As most people do, I immediately ran outside to see if there was anything, I could do to help. By the time I got outside, the area was full of people who were attempting to aid the passengers of all four vehicles. Wreckage everywhere, smoke billowing from the wreckage of the semi and pickup truck and a highway strewn with debris from the trailer that was pulled by the truck caused traffic to come to a screeching halt. Within minutes, traffic backed up for miles in both directions. As I stood there watching, I observed several vehicles barreling past all of the stopped vehicles using the passing lane, only to come to a rubber-burning stop just before slamming into the wreckage. What part of stopped traffic do these people not understand? This sort of reckless and impatient driving results in the sort of carnage that was strewn across the road. I made a quick call to 911 to request traffic control. They advised that they were on the way.

This is a very bad stretch of highway; the site of several fatalities in the 6 years I have had an office here. I have no idea what the record was prior to that. A long, nearly straight stretch of road for over 15 miles, you seldom see police patrolling for speeding vehicles or reckless driving. With many roads, drives and businesses along the way there is a great need for more lanes. How many people will have to die along this roadway before an evaluation is made and something is done?

Do not let these young lives be wasted. Look at the slide show of this accident presented by the Petoskey News Review and think of this devastation when you get a call or a text on your cell phone. Think of the lives lost here when you have a few drinks and decide you can drive. We may never know why the car crossed the centerline. Perhaps he was passing another vehicle. Look at the slide show. Are a few minutes of travel time worth the chance?

ETA: An update was released regarding the information on the driver of the passenger car. His name and other information are being withheld pending the possibility of criminal charges. he received minor injuries and was released from the hospital. Both semi drivers were treated for minor injuries and released.