Fatal Traffic Accident Being Investigated In Van Buren County

VAN BUREN COUNTY (WKZO) -- Could sudden acceleration have contributed to a spectacular fatal wreck involving multiple vehicles on M-43 Monday night? Police say it was more likely alcohol, but they are investigating…

The Van Buren County Sheriff's Department reports 58-year-old Everett Painter was driving westbound on M-43, when he clipped an ambulance and rammed three other cars. The last car sent his Saturn Vue flipping end over end into a home. Painter died at the scene.

The driver of the third car, 40-year-old Jay Oakley, was taken to Bronson Hospital with neck and back injuries. Lt. Bill Lux says there was dense fog in the area, but he doesn't believe it was a factor. He says they are going down through their checklist to try and figure out what went wrong because the victim can’t tell them.

Lux says they could know more later today after consulting with the pathologists.