A 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman was airlifted to an area hospital Wednesday evening after sustaining serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Constantine Township.

Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the scene of the crash in the area of North River Road near Winding River Road at approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, August 17. Initial investigation into the crash determined that a 23-year-old San Jose, California woman was driving eastbound on North River Road, with the aforementioned Grand Rapids woman in the passenger seat, when the vehicle left the roadway to the right. Authorities say the driver overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to slide sideways across the road before striking a tree squarely on the passenger side. 

The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to Bronson Hospital by Three Rivers Ambulance. The passenger sustained “major traumatic injuries,” according to authorities, and was airlifted by Beacon Memorial MedFlight to Bronson Hospital and was listed in critical condition. Both the driver and passenger were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash. 

Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Constantine Police and Fire Departments, White Pigeon Police, LifeCare Ambulance, Three Rivers Ambulance, Beacon Memorial MedFlight, and Broker’s Towing.

Alek Haak-Frost is executive editor and publisher of Watershed Voice.