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One killed in two-vehicle crash

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette — A semitruck involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash is seen during the cleanup of the accident site Monday morning. The driver of a GMC Envoy died after drifting into the path of a semitruck heading southbound on U.S. 41 near L’Anse.

Note: This story has been updated with the identity of the drivers. Aug. 27, 9 a.m.

L’ANSE — One person was killed in a two-vehicle crash outside of L’Anse Monday morning.

About 8 a.m., a semitruck collided with a GMC Envoy on U.S. 41, said Baraga County Sheriff’s Deputy Fabian Kristo. The semitruck was heading northbound when the Envoy drifted into its lane.

The driver of the Envoy, 59-year-old JoAnne Hilsendager of L’Anse, died at the scene. Brian Williams, the 57-year-old driver of the semi-truck, was taken to Baraga Area Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Paul Kaurala, 75, of Pelkie, was driving a third vehicle which went into the ditch while trying to avoid the accident. His passenger, 82-year-old Delores Perala, was injured and transported to Baraga County memorial Hospital by Bay Ambulance.

About 140 gallons of fuel were spilled in the crash. All fuel was intercepted before it reached the water, Kristo said.

A section of U.S. 41 between Baraga and L’Anse was closed to traffic starting at about 8 a.m. through early Monday afternoon. The northbound lane at Menge Creek Road had been reopened as of 2 p.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Upper Peninsula Twitter account.

Assisting Baraga County at the scene were Michigan State Police, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, Baraga Village Police, Baraga Fire Department, L’Anse Fire Department, Bay Ambulance, Michigan Department of Transportation and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy.

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