BURNSIDE, Lapeer County, Mich., Sept. 30, 2026 — A 67-year-old woman was seriously hurt on Monday afternoon, September 28, when the SUV she was riding in collided with a Michigan State Police cruiser on M-53 near Burnside Road.
The woman was riding in the third row of a Chevrolet Traverse when the crash happened around 4:20 p.m., according to Michigan State Police. She was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
The Traverse was driven by a 68-year-old Avoca man and carried four other passengers besides the injured woman, according to the update from Michigan State Police. None of them reported injuries. The trooper driving the state police cruiser also was not hurt.
Michigan State Police have not released what led up to the crash. The stretch of M-53 near Burnside Road was closed for a time while investigators worked the scene. It has since reopened to traffic.
The circumstances of the collision remain under investigation. No further details have been made public.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
Why Multi-Vehicle Crashes Happen Along Rural Highway Corridors Like M-53
Crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a patrol cruiser often trace back to the same basic problem that causes most roadway collisions: a gap between how much room a driver thinks they have and how much they actually need to stop or react. On two-lane state highways like M-53, speeds tend to run higher than on city streets, and any vehicle entering, crossing, or slowing along that corridor has less time to be seen and less time to react.
Weather and road surface play a bigger role than most drivers assume. Wet pavement, loose gravel on the shoulder, or a stretch of unlit rural road at dusk can double the distance a vehicle needs to stop compared to dry, clear conditions. A driver who is following standard reaction times for good conditions often finds that those numbers do not hold once the surface changes.
Visibility and timing also matter at intersections and access points along rural highways, where cross traffic, driveways, or turning vehicles create the kind of split-second judgment call that can go wrong when one driver misjudges the other's speed or distance. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 1,947,298 passenger-vehicle occupants were injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if the vehicle is drivable, call 911, and stay put until officers arrive to document the scene. Exchange information with the other driver and get medical care, even if injuries seem minor, since some symptoms may not appear for hours or days.
Where do most traffic crashes happen?
A large share occurs on state highways and rural roads where speeds are higher and shoulders, lighting, or turn lanes may be limited. Intersections and stretches with cross-traffic or shifting road conditions see repeated crash patterns.
What are the most common injuries in a car accident?
Whiplash, concussions, broken bones, and back or neck injuries are common, even in crashes that look moderate from the outside. Anyone involved in a crash should be evaluated promptly by a medical professional.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Burnside, Michigan
If you're involved in or witness a crash in the Burnside area, call 911 right away and stay clear of moving traffic while you wait for help. Take photos of the scene if it's safe to do so, and get contact information from anyone involved.
Even if you feel fine, see a doctor soon after the crash. Injuries from a collision aren't always obvious right away, and a medical record close to the date of the crash can matter later. Keep a copy of the police report once it's available, and follow up with local authorities if you have questions about the status of the investigation.
