Man gravely injured after being ejected in 3-car crash

Reckless driving cited in Pontiac crash

Officials are citing reckless driving as a factor that led to a three-vehicle crash injuring several people, one gravely, in Pontiac on Thursday night.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, two drivers were racing in their cars when they hit a third car doing donuts, ejecting that driver onto the pavement at the intersection of East South Boulevard at Centerpoint Parkway, at around 9:45 p.m.

The crash involved a 2016 Ford Focus, driven by a 19-year-old Waterford Township man, and a Nissan 350Z driven by an 18-year-old Jackson man, who were racing when they struck the third car, a Dodge Challenger driven by a 24-year-old St. Clair Shores man, the sheriff’s office said. The Challenger, which had been reported stolen from Toledo, was doing donuts in the intersection when it was hit first by the Focus and then by the Nissan, the sheriff’s office said.

The St. Clair Shores man, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the Charger and taken to a nearby hospital where he was listed in grave condition as of Friday morning the sheriff’s office said.

The Jackson man and a passenger in the Nissan were hospitalized in stable condition as of Friday morning, the sheriff’s office said. Both were believed to be wearing seatbelts.

The driver of the Focus was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt, the sheriff’s office said.

While reckless driving on the part of all three drivers appears to be a factor in the crash, alcohol does not, the sheriff’s office said. The incident is under investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit.