Rescue workers at the scene of a fatal plane crash with FedEx semi truck on U.S. 131 in Plainwell, MI on September 23, 2011. The pilot of the small single engine plane was killed in the crash. Photo credit: Tim Keith

Plainwell is located in Allegan County, Michigan in the southwestern part of the state about 78 1/2 miles southeast of Muskegon, about 22 miles northwest of Portage and about 13.4 miles north of Westwood.

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The accident happened at around 10 minutes to 9:00 a.m. in the morning on U.S. 131 on the approach to the runway at Plainwell Municipal Airport.

The victim was identified as William Frank Beswick, 73 years old, from Holland, MI. He and his wife had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary about a month previous.

Beswick apparently clipped the rear of a FedEx semi truck that was moving northbound on Highway 131 at the time. His plane flipped over and crashed in a field only about 40 feet from the end of the runway.

Map showing location of fatal crash between a single engine airplane and a FedEx semi truck on U.S. Highway 131 in Plainwell, MI on the approach to the the Plainwell Municipal Airport runway.

Beswick was an experienced aviator with about 50 years experience as a pilot. He was certified with a private pilot’s license with an instrument rating. It is speculated that fog may have played a role in this accident. He was flying a standard model Thorp T-18, classified as an experimental aircraft, that was certified by the FAA in 1978.

Beswick took off from Tulip City Airport in Holland, MI and his destination was the Plainwell Municipal Airport where the tragic accident happened.

Flight investigators said that conditions at the airport that morning were foggy and dangerous.

Fedex semi truck with large chunk of the rear of the trailer damaged in the collision with a small single engine airplane on U.S. 131 in Plainwell, MI. Photo credit: Tim Keith

Beswick was flying behind a friend and fellow pilot, Ken Dannenberg, 78 years old, also from Holland. Dannenberg landed first ahead of Beswick and spoke to him on the radio just before the crash. They were planning to meet for breakfast together at the Fly Inn, a restaurant at the airport in Plainwell.

It was only a 15 minute flight and both pilots had made frequent landings at the Plainwell Airport, sometimes two or three times per week. Dannenberg states that Beswick’s plane was equipped with the latest equipment and that it was well-maintained.

The FedEx semi truck driver was shaken but unhurt. A large chunk could be seen to be torn away from the rear of the trailer where the airplane’s wing struck the tractor-trailer.

At first the big rig driver did not realize what had happened. He brought the truck to a stop immediately afterwards about 1/3rd of a mile down the road.

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On Tuesday morning an unidentified semi driver was traveling south on I-75 driving through eastern Michigan. The trailer section was filled with approximately 44,000 pounds of sugar at the time of the truck accident.

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Shortly before 6:00 a.m. the semi driver had reached northern Genesee County, still traveling in the southbound lanes of I-75. The tractor trailer was behind a Chevy Malibu, driven by 30 year old Marc Keineth of Millington, MI, when the truck accident happened near the juncture with Lake Road in the town of Clio. Mr. Keineth had just moved into the right lane in front of the semi when the Chevy hit a patch of ice. The car driver lost control, skidding across the ice and snow covered road and spinning around. The Chevy ended up facing the wrong direction, partially blocking the right lane. He was directly in the path of the oncoming semi trailer and saw the trucks headlights headed toward him.

The truck driver swerved and attempted to miss the Chevy but was unable to and slammed into the car. The force of the truck accident propelled both vehicles into the ditch running along the interstate. The 18 wheeler continued forward and flipped over on its right side, coming to a stop on top of the Chevy, the weight of the semi crushing the roof.

The trapped driver in the Malibu took quick action after the crash. Mr. Keineth was able recline his car seat giving himself more room. He then called 911 and was able to tell dispatch about the truck accident and request help. He also sent a mobile text to his fiancé, letting her know that he was alright.

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The truck driver was able to get out of the cab and received only minor injuries in the truck accident.

Rescue teams arrived at the crash site in just a few minutes. The team began working to extricate Mr. Keineth from his wrecked Chevy Malibu. According to rescuers, the Chevy was in the ditch when the tractor trailer landed on top of the car, and the banks of the ditch kept the semi from instantly crushing the car. Also the cargo of sugar shifted toward the front of the trailer during the truck accident, taken the intense pressure off the roof of the car. The rescue team first stabilized the 18 wheeler so it could not move and then began cutting through the metal of the destroyed Chevy. Heavy duty wreckers were brought in to lift the tractor trailer off the car.

During the extrication operation, Mr. Keineth was able to move his arms and legs a little, but was forced to face the roof of the Malibu knowing the semi tractor was just a few inches above him. He later told reporters that the roof was so flattened that the rearview mirror was almost touching the drive shifter in the center console. The man was finally free several hours after the truck accident.

The driver was stabilized at the scene and then transported to nearby Hurley Medical Center. Miraculously he was not seriously injured in the truck accident and was released about two hours later.

At this time no charges have been brought against either driver. The initial finding is that the truck accident was caused by the icy road conditions. It is not known if officials suspect any other factors in the crash, such as excessive speed.

The truck accident remains under investigation.

On Tuesday afternoon, January 4, truck driver Gurpreet Johal of Brantton, Ontario, Canada was driving a semi trailer east on I-94, traveling through Van Buren County, MI. It is not known if the driver had cargo at the time of the truck accident, or where he was headed.

Michigan and most of the Midwest was experiencing a typical winter storm on Tuesday and the roads were covered with ice and snow, making the roads very slippery in spots. It was still snowing when the truck accident and several other crashes happened throughout the Kalamazoo region.

It was about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and the truck driver was approaching the interstate exit for Paw Paw. A short time earlier 73 year old Mary Prill of St. Joseph, MI had crashed on the highway. Her disabled Chevrolet Tahoe was left blocking a part of the right lane of eastbound traffic. Officers with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department and the Paw Paw Police had responded to the car crash and were helping Ms. Prill when the truck accident occurred.

The semi driver, Mr. Johal, had reached the scene of the earlier accident and was attempting to pass another driver when he lost control of his rig. According to police reports the semi driver was passing a Pontiac Grand Am driven by 20 year old Jason McQueen of Lakeview, MI when the tractor trailer began to slide on the highway. The 18 wheeler jackknifed and may have hit the Pontiac before slamming into the disabled Chevy Tahoe. The car driver, Ms. Prill, was in the Tahoe when the truck accident happened, and the two police officers were standing on either side of the Chevy.

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The semi continued forward and hit Deputy Duane Brigham of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Dept, and threw him about 100 feet from the truck accident scene. Paw Paw Police Officer Kirk Goodrich ended up entrapped underneath the tractor trailer.

Local emergency personnel quickly rushed to the crash site and began to help the numerous victims. Ms. Prill, the Tahoe driver, was transported to nearby Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was listed in intensive care and had suffered multiple internal injuries in the truck accident.

Deputy Brigham’s shoulder became dislocated when he was hit and thrown by the semi. He was stabilized at the truck accident scene and then taken to a nearby hospital for additional treatment for his shoulder and for lacerations to his head.

Paw Paw Officer Goodrich was partially stuck under the semi and rescue workers had to use tools to free the man. Once extricated, he was transported to Bronson Lakeview Hospital where he was treated for a broken ankle and injuries to several ribs. A passenger in the Pontiac Grand Am received unspecified injuries in the truck accident and was also taken to Bronson Lakeview Hospital. She was later identified as 20 year old Ashley Crawford of South Bend, Indiana.

The truck driver and the driver of the Pontiac were not injured in the truck accident.

Michigan Sate Police responded to the crash site and shut down a section of eastbound I-94. Motorists were forced off the highway at Exit 56 and diverted around the truck accident scene before being allowed back onto the highway east of the crash site. Crews were brought in to clear the disabled vehicles and debris from the interstate lanes. All eastbound lanes were opened a short time after 3:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Police investigating the collision have not made a statement on their findings, although they noted that weather and icy roads were factors in the crash. A Michigan State Police news release also stated that they believe at the time of the truck accident the semi driver was “Traveling at an unsafe speed passing another vehicle” when the semi slid and jackknifed.

No charges have been brought at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Early Tuesday morning 58 year old truck driver Calvin Roberts was driving a semi tractor truck west on Interstate 96, traveling through Eaton County, MI. His wife, 54 year old Brenda Roberts was a passenger at the time of the truck accident. The couple is from Oil Trough, Arkansas. The cargo and destination of the semi truck is not known.

On Tuesday the region where the truck accident occurred was still recovering from a severe winter storm over the weekend that had made driving hazardous. Several inches of snow accumulated followed by a deep freeze which left road surfaces slick and treacherous in places.

At about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning the Arkansas couple had reached the city of Lansing. The 18 wheeler was approaching the Mt. Hope Highway Bridge that passes over I-96 when the truck accident happened. For unknown reasons the tractor trailer crashed into a guardrail alongside the highway and then into the cement support under the bridge. It is thought that the semi trailer may have slid on the interstate and the driver momentarily lost control.

The semi tractor exploded into flames after slamming into the bridge support. The force of the truck accident may have punctured a fuel tank which fed the fire that engulfed the cab section. The flames leapt to the bridge, causing structural damage.

Sheriff Deputies and rescue teams from Eaton County rushed to the scene of the fiery truck accident. Firefighters battled the blaze but they were unable to extinguish the fire in time to free the Arkansas couple. By the time the flames were out the truck driver and his wife had died from the injuries received in the crash and the subsequent fire.

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The westbound lanes of I-96 were closed immediately after the truck accident and drivers were forced off the interstate at Martin Luther King Blvd. All westbound on-ramps were closed from MLK Blvd to I-496 where drivers were allowed back on westbound I-96. The Mt. Hope Highway Bridge that passes over I-96 was also closed due to the damaged caused by the crash.

Highway crews would work for more than 8 hours to clear the westbound traffic lanes. A heavy duty tow truck would haul the burnt remains of the tractor trailer while workers cleaned the debris of the truck accident off the interstate. All westbound lanes of I-96 were open for traffic by Tuesday night.

The Mt. Hope Highway Bridge was reopened about 8 hours after the truck accident but then closed again Tuesday night. A spokesperson for Michigan Department of Transportation said that engineers had inspected the Mt. Hope Highway Bridge to determine its structural strength and integrity and determined additional supports were needed. MDOT expected the repairs would be completed in a few days and the bridge opened for traffic by the weekend.

Authorities have reconstructed the deadly truck accident but have not yet released their findings on the fiery single vehicle crash. The semi may have lost traction of the icy road before crashing into the bridge.

It is expected that MDOT or the Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Division will inspect the disabled tractor trailer to determine if it had a mechanical failure that led to the fatal truck accident.

No charges have been brought and the truck accident remains under investigation.

David Bennett of Ludington, MI was driving a semi trailer truck south on U.S. 31 on Monday morning, traveling through Ottawa County, MI. The cab and trailer section of the semi had the logo for Eagle Xpress, a trucking company based out of Ludington, MI. The cargo and destination of the 18 wheeler is not known at this time.

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The multi vehicle truck accident was set off shortly before 8:00 a.m. Monday morning as the tractor trailer moved through Grand Rapids Township. The semi truck was approaching the juncture of U.S. 31 and Ferris Street when the morning commuter traffic began to slow down for a red light. A southbound pickup truck, driven by Joseph Longo of Spring Lake, MI, was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed as he came up on the slower traffic. Mr. Longo slightly hit one car, driven by Kaylin Seeger of Muskegon, MI, before suddenly pulling into the next lane, directly in the path of the semi trailer. The driver of the tractor trailer attempted to swerve to avoid a collision and apparently lost control of the truck.

The semi trailer jackknifed and moved into another southbound lane on the highway, colliding with a car driven by Heidi Flowers of Muskegon. The tractor trailer then crossed the grassy median and careened into the northbound lanes of U.S. 31 where it slammed into a northbound car. The tractor trailer, and two of the vehicles which had become stuck on the 18 wheeler, crossed all the northbound lanes before finally coming to a rest at the edge of the highway. Altogether five vehicles including the semi were involved in the truck accident.

Ottawa County emergency personnel rushed to the scene of the multi vehicle crash. Fortunately none of the drivers were seriously injured in the collision, possibly due to the fact that everyone was wearing their seat belts at the time of the truck accident. The driver of the northbound vehicle that was hit by the semi, John McCall of Muskegon, MI, sustained minor injuries in the truck accident. His arm and hand were treated at the crash site by a paramedic from North Ottawa Community Hospital and he did not require hospitalization.

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Ottawa County Sheriff Department officers shut down a section of U.S. 31 around the disabled semi truck and cars. Northbound traffic was rerouted to secondary roads while the rescue teams and police worked at the crash site. The southbound traffic also was slowed by the truck accident but no lanes were shut down.

Highway crews were brought in to remove the crashed cars and tractor trailer off the highway. It would take the workers a little over an hour to clear the truck accident site.

Police reconstructed the multi vehicle collision but have not yet made their final determination public. It is believed that the speeding pick-up truck that pulled in front of the semi set off the truck accident. It is believed that police interviewed the driver of the pickup, Mr. Longo, at the crash site. Police did confirm that drugs and alcohol are not considered factors in the crash.

No charges have been made at this time and the truck accident remains under investigation.

On Tuesday afternoon, October 19, 47 year old Todd DeVos of Allendale, MI was driving an International Stake semi trailer truck south on Pine Island Drive in Plainfield Township, MI. The semi stake truck belongs to Consumers Concrete Corporation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the same time 27 year old Matthew Guiles of Comstock Park, MI was driving his green 1994 Ford Ranger pick-up truck north on Pine Island Drive. There were no passengers in either truck.

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The truck accident occurred at about 4:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon as the two vehicles met at the point where Post Drive NE intersects Pine Island Dr., just west of the town of Rockford.

The truck driver, Mr. DeVos, entered the intersection and maneuvered the semi stake truck in place to make a left turn onto eastbound Post Drive NE as soon as the traffic was cleared. Mr. Guiles drove his Ford pick-up into the intersection at the same time and the two vehicles collided head-on. Metal flew off the two trucks and debris scattered across the intersection.

According to some reports the pick-up went around another vehicle before entering the intersection and may not have seen the semi truck waiting to make the left turn until it was too late to avoid a collision.

No other persons or vehicles were involved in the truck accident.

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The truck accident caused extensive damage to the front sections of both vehicles. The hood of the Ford Ranger was crushed in, partially trapping the driver inside. According to officials the truck driver got out of his semi cab and was helping the driver of the pick-up while they waited for local emergency personnel to reach the scene.

Once the rescue team arrived at the truck accident site they helped Mr. Guiles out of his partially demolished pick-up. He was stabilized before an ambulance transported him to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where he was treated for a broken arm and unspecified injuries to his chest and leg. His condition is considered critical.

The driver of the semi trailer, Mr. DeVos, received minor scratches in the truck accident as he attempted to help Mr. Guiles. He was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.

Kent County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the collision site and shut down an area around the truck accident. Crews were brought to the site to clear the debris off the roadway and make the intersection safe for travel. Tow trucks were brought to the site to remove the wreckage of the two vehicles. The pick-up appeared to be destroyed but it is not known if the semi stake truck can be repaired. The intersection was still closed at 6:30 p.m. and authorities hoped to have it reopened sometime Tuesday night.

Deputies conducted a reconstruction of the truck accident but have not released their findings to the public. They are investigating the report of the pick-up truck going around another vehicle before entering the intersection but have not confirmed if that action caused the head-on collision.

No citations have been made and the truck accident remains under investigation.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident attorney directory that also reports on up to date truck accidents across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with an expert truck accident lawyer who knows the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Michigan truck accidents.

Firefighters prepare to remove the victim of a fatal crash on eastbound Interstate 94 near Coloma on Monday afternoon. Police said it appears that the semi truck ran into the rear of the car. Traffic had backed up due to a multi-vehicle crash that had taken place a few minutes earlier in the eastbound lanes near the Coloma exit, about two miles to the east. William F. Ast III / H-P staff

On Monday afternoon an unidentified truck driver was driving a semi trailer truck in the right eastbound lane of Interstate 94 through Berrien County, MI. The trailer truck was behind a car as it moved through the area near the city of Coloma. In addition to the driver there were three passengers in the car including the brother of the driver 68 year old Fred Reinhardt, Jr of Bangor, MI.

At around 4:00 p.m. Monday afternoon eastbound traffic on the interstate began to slow down due to a crash that had occurred a few moments earlier near the exit for Friday Road. As the truck moved near the exit to Park Road the car directly in front of the semi truck began to slow with traffic.

Not long after the fatal accident happened, eastbound traffic on I-94 was diverted onto I-196, then east on Red Arrow Highway to Watervliet and back to I-94. Traffic on I-94 at one point was backed up from the I-196 exit almost to Napier Avenue in Benton Township, about three miles. The eastbound lanes were reopened around 9:15 p.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Mark Parren photo

The 18 wheeler truck was apparently too close to the car or going too fast to avoid a collision. The semi trailer truck slammed into the back of the car, crushing in the back section of the smaller vehicle. The force of the truck accident caused both vehicles to flip over onto their sides. The semi truck and the car both became enmeshed in the highway cable barriers running along the side of the interstate median.

According to authorities the barriers probably prevented more vehicles being hit in the deadly crash by keeping the trailer truck from crossing into other lanes of traffic.

Michigan State Police Troopers on their way to the first collision came upon the scene of the truck accident and stopped to help. Firefighters from a nearby department rushed to the site of the overturned truck and car where they found Fred Reinhardt Jr. trapped in the back seat of the car hit by the semi. The rescue team worked to extricate the victim from the back seat.

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Unfortunately Mr. Reinhardt suffered fatal injuries in the truck accident and died at the scene. The driver and two other passengers were also hurt in the rear end truck collision however it is not known if they were transported to a hospital. Their conditions and extent of injuries was not released to the public.

The truck driver suffered minor injuries in the truck accident.

MSP shut down a section of I-94 around the site of the deadly truck accident. Vehicles were rerouted to Interstate 196 then directed to Red Arrow Highway on to Watervliet and then back onto I-94.

Highway crews and tow trucks were brought to the truck accident site to clear the wreckage of the fatal collision off the interstate. The work was slow moving and an hour after the crash the semi trailer truck was still on its side while the car was back upright. The cleanup lasted well into the evening and the eastbound lanes of I-94 finally reopened shortly after 9:00 p.m. Monday night.

Investigators with MSP and the Michigan Department of Transportation conducted a reconstruction of the truck accident. At this time they have not released their findings to the public.

At this point they have not brought any charges in the deadly collision and the truck accident remains under investigation.

The driver was able to escape from the flipped 18 wheeler and was not injured.

On Wednesday morning a semi trailer truck was headed north on Interstate 275 North traveling through Wayne County, MI. The trailer was carrying several different chemicals including hydrogen peroxide, a bleaching agent that has a variety of uses including as an oxidizer, disinfectant, antiseptic, and as a rocket propellant. The semi truck is owned by PVS-Nolwood, a subsidiary of PVS Chemicals based in Detroit, MI.

As the chemical truck passed the area near Romulus it was hit in the back section by a car that was traveling on eastbound Interstate 94 and attempting to merge onto northbound I-275 North. The collision caused the unidentified truck driver to lose control of his rig. The trailer truck tipped over on its side in the traffic lanes of the interstate.

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The driver was able to escape from the flipped 18 wheeler and was not injured in the truck accident.

The rollover truck accident reportedly damaged some of the totes carrying the cargo of chemicals on the trailer and hydrogen peroxide began to leak out on the highway. Michigan State Police responded to the accident site and closed a section of the interstate as the potentially dangerous chemical spilled onto the roadway. According to authorities there was a possibility of a chemical reaction which could lead to an explosion. Two miles of I-275 North were closed from just south of I-94.

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About 300 gallons of hydrogen peroxide spilled out of the tank damaged in the truck accident and local firefighters and a Haz-Mat team worked together to clean up the chemical spill and keep it contained and out of local water systems. It would take several hours to clean up the spilled chemical and the interstate would remain closed for most of the day.

Investigators reconstructing the truck accident believe it was set off when the driver changing lanes clipped the semi truck. The unidentified driver of the car stopped at the accident scene and may be charged for reckless driving. The truck accident remains under investigation.

Local firefighter’s fought the blazing truck for a time. A Haz-Mat team was also called to the site of the truck accident to handle the diesel fuel and any other dangerous materials which may have spilled during the collision.

At around 4:00 a.m. Thursday morning a semi trailer truck was driving north on Interstate in Eaton County, MI. As the unidentified driver was in the right lane, and as the 18 wheeler passed through the area near the city of Charlotte a second semi tractor truck came up behind the first rig.

The driver of the second trailer truck decided to pass the first 18 wheeler and moved over into the passing lane. As the driver was passing he side swiped and then collided with the first semi trailer truck.

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When the trucks collided the impact damaged a fuel tank on one of the 18 wheelers and diesel fuel spilled out. The first truck and a section of the interstate exploded into flames.

The truck driver was able to escape from the cab of his burning truck. When local emergency personnel reached the scene of the truck accident they treated the driver for minor injuries and then transported him to a nearby hospital in Eaton Rapids, MI.

The driver of the second trailer truck fled the scene of the truck accident and the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office has issued a bulletin for the driver to be found and brought back for questioning and possible charges.

Local firefighter’s fought the blazing truck for a time. A Haz-Mat team was also called to the site of the truck accident to handle the diesel fuel and any other dangerous materials which may have spilled during the collision.

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When the fire was finally extinguished the semi truck was completely destroyed, all that was remaining was a burnt, smoldering shell.

The northbound lanes in I-69 were closed for almost eight hours after the truck accident. Crews worked to clear the debris from the roadway and tow the seared wreckage of the semi truck off the interstate.
While the northbound lanes were closed deputies with the Eaton County Sheriff’s office reconstructed the truck accident and tried to determine why the two 18 wheelers collided.

The driver of the semi truck that fled the scene will likely be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Other charges may be brought pending the completion of the truck accident investigation.

Local emergency personnel teams responded to the scene of the truck accident.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday a semi trailer truck carrying a load of hazardous material was traveling east on I-96 in Livingston County near the town of Brighton, MI. The 18 wheeler is owned by Chem-Trend LP and was carrying 70 barrels of Monolube 3400, a potentially hazardous lubricant used in tire manufacturing. According to experts, Monolube 3400 if shaken in unventilated containers could produce hydrogen gas which could then explode. Chem-Trend is based in Howell, MI.

As the semi trailer truck moved through the area near Brighton and US Highway 23 just past Pleasant Valley Road the truck driver apparently had a collision with a passenger car, which caused him to lose control of the 18 wheeler and overturn on the interstate. The impact of the rollover truck accident spilled several of the barrels of the Monolube 3400 out onto the roadway.

Local emergency personnel teams responded to the scene of the truck accident. The truck driver was treated and stabilized at the site and then transported to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, about 20 miles to the south. Officials did not release the exact nature of the truck driver’s injuries, but they were reportedly non-life threatening.

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It is unknown at this time if the driver of the car involved in the truck accident was injured.
Michigan State Police also responded to the site of the truck accident. When they learned of the potentially hazardous material that had spilled out onto the highway they made the decision to close down all lanes of the interstate around the accident site.

A Haz-Mat team from Livingston County was called in to handle the clean up of the Monolube 3400. Corrigan Towing, based in Brighton, brought in heavy equipment and handled the removal of the wreckage of the disabled semi trailer truck.

It would take hours to clean up the interstate and officials finally reopened the traffic lanes around 9:00 p.m. Wednesday night.

MSP continues to investigate the truck accident and no charges or citations have been brought at this time.