Kalamazoo, MI — Two people were hospitalized, one with serious injuries, following a crash at a Kalamazoo gas station on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the Speedway located on S. Westnedge Avenue, between Kilgore Road and Cork Street.
According to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS), a car traveling north on Westnedge Avenue veered off the road and into the gas station parking lot. The vehicle collided with two parked cars, two motorcycles, and a gas pump, causing the pump to be knocked off its base.
One of the motorcyclists, who was in the process of fueling, was struck by the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. The second motorcyclist, who was uninjured, was able to drive away from the scene. The driver of the car involved in the crash was also taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Fortunately, no one in the two stationary vehicles involved in the collision was injured.
Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic and tense situation. Kalamazoo resident Jordan Smith, who was present when the emergency responders arrived, said she saw police performing CPR on one of the injured individuals. “I overheard loss of pulse for a minute. When they got it back, I felt kind of relieved,” Smith shared. “This shouldn’t have happened. People need to stop speeding down this road. There have been so many accidents recently on S. Westnedge alone just from people speeding.”
Speed is suspected to be a contributing factor, though KDPS has yet to confirm whether it played a role in the crash. The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities have noted that there is no indication the crash was intentional.
Speedway employees responded quickly to the situation, shutting off the gas pumps to prevent further danger. “No problems with the gas or anything like that,” said Officer Matthew Gernaat of the KDPS. “That was remedied by the Speedway staff and our emergency personnel. When we got here, that was one of our first priorities, and there was no hazmat situation.”
As the investigation continues, officials urge drivers to exercise caution, especially in areas known for frequent accidents.
