One Man Hospitalized After 3 Crashes at Michigan and Industrial

One man was hospitalized after a crash at Michigan Avenue and Industrial Drive Tuesday afternoon.

Saline Police were investigating a routine fender bender when it turned into something that closed two lanes of eastbound Michigan Avenue traffic at the intersection.

The incident began when a black Ford car rear-ended a Chrysler minivan. Saline Police officer Mike Snook arrived on the scene to investigate. As he interviewed the driver of the minivan, a man driving a White Ford Escape apparently had some sort of health incident, according to Police Chief Larry Hrinik, and drove into the back of a GMC Suburban, keeping his foot on the gas. The Surburban pulled out of the way and the Escape smashed into the back of the police cruiser, which was unoccupied and sustained heavy damage, according to Hrinik.

"That was a close one," said Snook, who went out to direct traffic as tow trucks arrived to clean up the mess. "I'm pretty certain someone is looking out for me. What a difference a couple of seconds make."

Several Saline police officers and fire fighters were on the scene directing traffic.

Fire Chief Craig Hoeft said the driver of the Escape was hospitalized. 

"This could have been a lot worse," Hoeft said, assessing the damage.