Elderly driver crashes into cop, then building

By Sarah Cormier
C & G Staff Writer

MOUNT CLEMENS — An 85-year-old female driver was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after she crashed into a police car traveling on Gratiot, then drove into a nearby office building.

According to Capt. Tony Wickersham with the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, at around 9:47 a.m. on March 12, the police officer and the woman were both traveling separately in the same direction northbound on Gratiot near Church Street in Mount Clemens. The woman was driving in the far right lane and the officer was in the far left lane.

Wickersham said that “for an unknown and unexplained reason,” the woman moved over to the far left lane, striking the Clinton Township Police Department patrol car.

“She cut across three lanes and cut across the police car,” explained Clinton Township Police Lt. Anthony Greene.

After the woman hit the police car, she then veered back over to the right lane, but lost control and her vehicle crashed through a fence, then the office building, which is located at 100 northbound Gratiot. 

Wickersham said that neither driver suffered from “life-threatening injuries.”

“The officer was taken to the hospital for a checkup and the elderly lady was also taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries,” he said.

It was also reported to police that a woman was working at her desk in the office building, but was not injured. The Clinton Township Police patrol car took “a pretty good hit” and had significant damage, Greene said.

Wickersham said it is unlikely that the woman will receive a ticket or be charged in the incident. 

C & G Staff Writer Heidi Roman contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1095.