Rash of Teen ATV/UTV Crashes Leaves Tragedy in its Wake

A 17-year-old North Branch teenager was killed and an 18-year-old Marlette teenager was seriously injured in a UTV crash in Lapeer County's North Branch. The UTV encountered another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction and maneuvered to the right to avoid collision, causing the UTV to go off the road. The vehicle was able to return to the road, but never regained stability before it left the road a second time. The teens were not wearing seatbelts or helmets, and the seatbelt safety system on the UTV was bypassed. The crash remains under investigation.