Police: Short ramp may have role in U.S.-23 crash

BY GINA DAMRON and ALEX P. KELLOGG • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • October 10, 2008 An accident on U.S.-23 that injured several members of Amish families Thursday could partly have been caused by a dangerous highway entrance ramp, police said. Michigan State Police Trooper Randy Phare said the ramp at Barker Road in Northfield Township that connects to U.S.-23 south is short, making it hard for drivers to pick up speed as they enter the highway. The bus involved in the crash has seats for 13 passengers, but was carrying at least 20 members of a Mt. Pleasant-area church headed to a funeral in Ohio, Phare said. Police also are investigating the bus driver. State Police Sgt. Chris Pascoe said it's unclear whether the driver, who is not Amish, was working as a commercial chauffeur and, if so, whether he was licensed. No one has yet... [read full story]