Head-on crash in Georgetown Twp. leaves 1 seriously injured, triggers HazMat cleanup

GEORGETOWN TWP. — A two-vehicle collision involving a sedan and a semi-truck loaded with mulch left one person seriously injured and triggered a hazardous materials response early Monday morning.

The incident occurred on July 6, 2026, at approximately 7:38 a.m. on 48th Avenue, just north of Bauer Road.

According to preliminary reports from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling northbound on 48th Avenue when the driver — a 20-year-old resident of Dexter, Michigan — crossed the center line.

The Jetta collided with a southbound 2020 Peterbilt semi-truck driven by a 27-year-old resident of Dorr, Michigan. The impact forced the semi-truck across the northbound lane and into an eastern drainage ditch, where the vehicle tipped onto its driver's side, spilling its cargo of landscape mulch.

First responders from the Georgetown Township Fire Department and LIFE EMS arrived quickly at the scene to treat the victims and secure the area.

The Jetta driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The semi-truck driver and a passenger in the Peterbilt escaped the crash without injuries.

The crash ruptured the Peterbilt’s fuel tanks, causing diesel fuel to leak directly into the 48th Avenue drainage ditch.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office HazMat Team was deployed to the scene and is currently working alongside firefighters to contain and clean up the spill.

Traffic in the area experienced delays as crews worked to clear the overturned semi-truck, mulch, and hazardous fuel. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the exact cause of the crash remains under active investigation.

— Submitted by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.