DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 16-year-old girl was killed Wednesday in a fiery crash in Deerfield Township, the day before her birthday.
Lapeer County Sheriff's deputies say Morgan Dingus died instantly when her truck was hit by another driver that ran a stop sign at the intersection of Booth and North Branch roads just after 8 p.m. Wednesday. They said Dingus' truck caught fire after the impact.
Dingus' boyfriend told Local 4 she had just left his house after they had enjoyed a pre-birthday dinner together and was driving home.
The driver that hit her, 18-year-old Cody Olmstead, was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint with life-threatening injuries. Joseph Divitto, 19, was a passenger in Olmstead's vehicle and was not hurt.
The Sheriff's Office said Olmstead may have been driving under the influence of alcohol.
At the scene of the accident Detective Sergeant Jason Parks with the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department said, "Hopefully the message will get out there that alcohol and driving do not mix. And second of all, when you're operating those vehicles do take caution because there are great consequences at stake."