86-year-old woman dies after car crashes into pole in Clinton Township

Woman was passenger in car that hit pole

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – An 86-year-old died after a car she was in crashed into a pole Wednesday in Clinton Township.

Police said the woman, Shirley Ann Tobalski, was a passenger in a 2019 Buick Lacrosse driven by a 92-year-old. The driver was turning from westbound 15 Mile Road onto northbound Garfield Road at 5:21 p.m. when they struck the pole.

The pole broke in half and collapsed on the car. Police said Tobalski, of Clinton Township, died as a result of injuries sustained from the crash, not the pole landing on the car.

The crash knocked down electrical wires, so officers used a drone to instruct the victims to stay calm and in the car until DTE could shut the power off. Police said both occupants were conscious and alert. Tobalski eventually lost consciousness, police said.

She was pronounced dead at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

Police don’t believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.


About the Authors:

Paula Tutman is an Emmy award-winning journalist who came to Local 4 in 1992. She's married and the stepmother of three beautiful and brilliant daughters. Her personal philosophy in life, love and community is, "Do as much as you can possibly do, not as little as you can possibly get away with".