Update: Charges possible in fatal Onaway crash Watch Video Read Comments
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3 family members killed in January auto accident

By Greg Angel
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.

Read more: Local

ONAWAY -- Charges could soon come following a fatal Presque Isle County accident earlier this year that killed three people.

This is an update to a story 7&4 News has been following since January.

Presque Isle County deputies say around noon on Monday, January 26, 2009, a pick up truck with 6 teenage occupants collided head-on with another car on Hutchison Road.

The driver of the second vehicle, Nicholas Stuifbergen, 23, along with his mother Debra Stuifbergen, 51, and sister Leann Shoulders, 27, all of Onaway were killed in the accident.

The investigation wrapped up this week and the report is now under review by Presque Isle County Prosecutor Richard Steiger to determine if any charges will be filed.

The 16-year-old driver of the pick up, along with 3 other occupants were transported to area hospitals with several broken bones, cuts and bruises.

All six teenagers were on lunch break from Presque Isle Academy in Onaway, which the school's director says has an open campus policy for students allowing them to leave the school at lunch.

Presque Isle County Sheriff Robert Paschke says speed was a major factor in the accident.

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4 Comments on this Story
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; they are not reflective of the views or opinions of Barrington Broadcasting, TV 7&4, its directors or employees. If you believe a comment violates the Barrington Terms of Use, please report it here.

Alisha1211

Posted by Alisha Walters, Holland, Michigan - Monday, January 25, 2010 at 2:39 p.m.

Ok, so If I am reading your comments right, You are talking about my family. My family was the ones killed on my aunts birthday. So yes they were kids but they are old enough to know the law right? Why is it ok that the kid only gets a year in jail? He knows weather conditions right but decideds to speed and end up killing my family. He wiped out three of my family memebers in Minutes but its ok right? Why is my familys life only worth 1 year in jail. I personally do not care if he had to live with it. We have to life without our beloved three family memebers for the rest of our life. What about our void and pain. I am sorry if it was my child I would request that he spent more than a year in jail, loss of drivers rights for at least 5 years and probation plus a letter to the family inflicted . I am not just saying this because it is my family . This is just not right and you know it. Same on him but ohwell God will punish him and in the end God will punish him in the after life.

Why not just slap their lil wrists.

Posted by Inthe Know, Northern Michigan - Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 3:37 a.m.

Why were these kids out in the first place? Driving without the least bit of common sense or a care for the safety of others, they killed 3 innocent people. All in that truck are to blame. The driver at the very least should do jail/prison time and THEN he can feel remourse for the rest of his life for what he's done. Why, after killing 3 innocent people, did his mom buy him a New truck? I guess we can't punish lil Jr. Send him to Jail.

mom

Posted by momma momma, up north - Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 12:01 p.m.

What if they were your children would you have the same opinion? It was an accident and now they have to live every day knowing what happend seeing the poor people in there dreams reliving the ACCIDENT every day like it was yesterday. I think they will suffer enough just with that! Take away his license and give him community service. They are children not repeat drunk drivers.

Full prosecution

Posted by Aspasia D, Gaylord - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 11:25 p.m.

That negligent speeding driver killed three innocent people who were on their way to celebrate a family birthday. That negligent speeding driver deserves nothing less than full prosecution under the law. He has proven himself to be a danger to the community.

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