GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As the winter storm continues to bear down on West Michigan, a Kent County Road Commission was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Grand Rapids on the morning of Dec. 23.
The crash happened at 4:45 a.m. at the intersection of 28th Street and Eastern Avenue in the southern part of the city. The vehicle that hit the truck fled the scene following the collision.
According to the road commission, the car hit the rear of the plow truck. The incident didn't seriously damage the truck, but the vehicle that hit it sustained sizeable damage.
County road commissioner Jerry Byrne said that the incident that damaged an area near the truck's plow wing extension left room for questions.
"In this case where it's early morning and somebody drives off, you can only imagine there's probably a reason they drove off," Byrne said. "It could've been impaired driving, but you don't just leave the scene of an accident at all. So, we think there's probably more to this accident than just striking the back of a truck."
He said that in order for crews to be able to clear the roads, drivers need to be aware of their surroundings so that accidents like this don't happen.
"Well, we always tell folks these wings extensions and especially this light powdery snow will kick a lot of powder up," Byrne said. "So, people are thinking they're just driving through a cloud of snow. Well, in the front of that cloud of snow is one of our trucks. So, that's why we tell people don't pass our trucks, back off, have a little patience and don't ever pass on the right because that's where that wing extension's going to be."
Byrne said they did file a report with the Grand Rapids Police Department and is urging those who do venture out on the roads to exercise caution.
"Regardless if it's a county truck or a city truck or just driving amongst other motorists, when your visibility is limited, you need to severely reduce your speeds," Byrne said.
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