MANISTIQUE - Seat belts and air bags contributed to two college students not being seriously injured in a head-on collision that resulted in a vehicle explosion in Schoolcraft County Monday.
Escanaba resident Sean Sapino, 23, was driving east on U.S. 2, near Kelly Road in Doyle Township. His vehicle crashed head-on with a vehicle driven by Kyle Fiebernitz, 19, of Bancroft, Mich., according to a press release issued by Michigan State Police from the Manistique Post.
Road conditions were described as icy and slippery when the accident occurred at around 9:15 a.m., backing up traffic for more than a hour, said Trooper George Kanyuh.
After the collision, Sapino's car careened into the snow-filled ditch on the south side of the road, the trooper said. The driver was able to free himself from the car.
Fiebernitz's SUV came to rest in the center of the road where a fire broke out underneath the vehicle.
Fiebernitz was able to get himself out of the SUV shortly before the vehicle exploded and burst into flames.
"Upon the arrival of emergency personnel, the vehicle was completely consumed by flames with black, billowing smoke visible in the sky for some distance from the crash scene," Kanyuh stated.
Both drivers were transported by Manistique Ambulance to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique. They were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, he said.
"Seat belt use and air bag deployment appear to have contributed to the drivers not being seriously injured," Kanyuh commented. No tickets have been issued as the post continues to investigate the accident, he added.
Prior to the accident, Sapino was driving to Ferris State University in Big Rapids where he is a student. Fiebernitz was on his way to Michigan Technological University in Houghton where he attends college.
Following Monday's collision, traffic was backed up for miles.
"All eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 2 were shut down for approximately one and a half hours as first responders worked at tending to the injured, putting out the fire, and clearing the scene of vehicles and debris," Kanyuh said.
"Salt trucks were then called in to treat the roadway from the fire hose water that was freezing on the highway," he explained.
State police were assisted at the scene by Doyle Township Fire Department, Schoolcraft County Sheriff Department, Manistique Public Safety and Ambulance crew, Schoolcraft County Road Commission, and Don's Towing Service from Gulliver.
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