News

Actions

Texting blamed for serious Ottawa County crash

Posted at 4:27 PM, Jun 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-18 16:28:37-04

PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A driver blamed a text message for causing a crash that resulted in serious injuries Saturday morning.

At 10:47 a.m. Saturday, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that a car had hit a motorcycle on James Street at Stoney Lake Drive in Park Township.

The investigation showed that Douglas Dyer, 56, of Holland was driving a 2016 Ford pickup truck westbound on James when he slowed to turn onto southbound Stoney Lake and turned in front of an eastbound 1982 Yamaha 750 Maxim motorcycle ridden by Richard Monetza, 54, of Holland.

The car then hit the motorcycle.

Dryer told deputies that he had been distracted by a text message on his cell phone.

Monetza suffered a serious leg injury and was transported to Holland Hospital where he was listed in serious condition later Saturday. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

Dryer was not injured. He was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.

The accident remains under investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.