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Four pickup trucks involved in Sands Township crash

SANDS TOWNSHIP, MI--   Nine people were taken to Marquette General Hospital Wednesday, following a four-vehicle crash on M-553 in Sands Township. 

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened around 4:20 p.m. at the intersection of Flodin Road. 

Two pickup trucks were stopped in the southbound lanes, waiting to turn left, when the second truck was hit from behind by a third pickup, driven by Justin Sleeter, 26, of Ishpeming.  The impact forced the first truck, driven by Steven Wallenius, 57, of Alpena, into the ditch.  The second truck, driven by Dan Keller, 61, of Gwinn, was forced into the northbound lane and struck a northbound pickup with an attached trailer hauling scrap metal.  That vehicle, driven by Bart Olsen, 67, of Marquette, rolled over and came to rest on the shoulder.  The truck that caused the crash ended up on the southeastern shoulder of the intersection.

All nine people involved in the crash were taken to MGH with non-life-threatening injuries.  Wallenius and his wife were admitted for observation.  The rest--including four children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years old--were treated and released.

Sleeter was cited for careless driving and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.