[kellyhound]

PLAINWELL, Mich. Michigan State Police dashcam video raises questions for a grieving family about why a trooper responding to reports of a wrong-way driver on the highway didn’t take action that might have prevented a fatal wreck.

The wreck happened late April 15 on US-131 near Plainwell. Authorities say 29-year-old Jeremy Smeltzer of Portage was driving his pickup truck north in the southbound lanes in the area of M-89 when his truck collided head-on a vehicle driver by Jaryd Ford of Plainwell.

Ford, 21, died at the scene. Smeltzer was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Ford’s passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Dashcam video shows one trooper drive past Ford’s vehicle without warning him of the danger ahead.

“We saw for the first time yesterday morning,” said Ford’s stepfather Brett Cobble.

In the video, a trooper responding to the call pulls onto the on-ramp with lights and sirens activated.

A vehicle ahead of the trooper on the on-ramp pulls over and waited for him to pass.

Ford’s family said that vehicle was Ford’s.

After the trooper passed, Ford continues along the on-ramp toward the highway. When the trooper sees the wrong-way driver coming, he pulled over onto the shoulder. To avoid him, Ford merged into the far left lane.

That’s when the crash happened. The video shows debris and sparks flying.

When the trooper turns around to face the crash, Ford’s car can be seen engulfed in flame. The front end of Smeltzer’s truck is smashed.

“This is a head-on crash,” one trooper radios in. “Unresponsive victims. Vehicles are both on fire.

Troopers can be heard talking to Ford’s passenger. They then turn their attention to Smeltzer’s truck.

“He’s gasping for air,” a trooper says.

“Can you get him out? Can we get him out of here or no?” another asks.

“No, probably not safely,” a trooper replies.

Ford’s family wonders why the trooper didn’t block the on-ramp. The wrong-way vehicle is clear on the dashcam video as the trooper pulled over, which means the trooper must have been able to see it coming.

“We would like the question answered, why our son was allowed to get on the highway,” Brett Cobble, Ford’s stepfather said.

Another trooper conducting a traffic stop had previously taken action to keep that driver from pulling back onto the highway.

“Stay right here for a second,” the trooper can be heard saying in dashcam video. “There’s a car coming the wrong way on the highway, so just say right here.”

But no one warned Ford to avoid the highway.

“Our son wasn’t given that opportunity,” said Cobble.

His family recalled Ford as kind and affectionate.

“Every day he said he loved you. He told anybody he loved them every day,” Christine Ford, the victim’s mother, said. “He was wonderful, amazing. Kind, kind to everyone.”

No one from Michigan State Police was available to speak about Ford’s family’s concerns, but a representative is expected to be available Wednesday.

But earlier Tuesday, MSP told that if the troopers had not been present when the crash happened, Ford’s passenger would likely have also died.

Authorities have not yet said why Smeltzer was going on the wrong way on the highway.

MSP said it put a rush on toxicology tests for Smeltzer Tuesday. It hopes to have results back by the end of the week.

Ford’s family has hired a lawyer. They want someone to be held accountable for the crash.

[deanmine]

Great Info.... but the vid needs a lil work im afraid!

[Photoplay]

Thanks for post.
If you click twice on Vid it works fine for me.
Huge collision. Sad set of circumstances and story.

[Desensitisation]

The only person to be held accountable for the crash is the idiot driving the wrong way. That idiot is now dead. Sadly, an innocent person also died, and everything is easier to determine in hindsight.

[Shakey]

I believe the cop should have stopped in the center of the on-ramp and waited for the truck to pass.

[deanmine]

i think there should be a time out issued during these police pursuit chases .. this will allow for commercials (much needed revenue for the cable industry) and gives time for the bystanders to go on about there day without getting burned alive!

[Pyramid_Head]

The cop should have told Ford about the danger ahead.

[redfox2045]

To be fair if the oncoming car was so "Clearly visible" how didn't he see it? Also I'm fairly certain a police car barreling past you with lights and sirens is a pretty good indication the road ahead has something unsafe going on. Just saying the law is to pull over when an Emergency Vehicle has their sirens on, had he followed that he wouldn't have been on the road. Stop trying to pass the blame off on the police, they have a split second to make these decisions. It sucks your son died, sue the family of the driver, but leave the poor cops alone.

[jesskazen]

Originally Posted by Desensitisation ↗

The only person to be held accountable for the crash is the idiot driving the wrong way. That idiot is now dead. Sadly, an innocent person also died, and everything is easier to determine in hindsight.

well technology exists to turn cars off (kill switch) so they can't continue to run, would be useful if it was implemented to end high speed chases and stuff like this from happening

[FunkPumpkin]

Originally Posted by Photoplay ↗

Thanks for post.
If you click twice on Vid it works fine for me.
Huge collision. Sad set of circumstances and story.

It works, but the resolution is terrible.