CHARLTON TWP. - Troopers from the Gaylord Michigan State Police are continuing their investigation into an early Sunday morning freak accident which claimed the life of Gaylord High School (GHS) sophomore Levi Coger, 16, Johannesburg.

According to officials at the Gaylord MSP post, Coger, a member of the GHS hockey team, was being towed on an inflatable water raft attached by a rope to a 2002 GMC Safari van driven by a 17-year-old male from Gaylord. The van was traveling westbound around 12:45 a.m. on snow-covered Chippewa Trail near Dagon Road south of M-32.

Troopers said as the van slowed for a curve in the roadway and an oncoming vehicle, Coger and the raft continued to move forward and into the path of a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by a 17-year-old female from Johannesburg. Coger was reportedly struck by the Caravan and sustained critical injuries. Neither driver was reportedly injured.

The young man was transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital and later flown to Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland where he later died from his injuries. He was pronounced dead around 8:30 a.m.

A Sunday news release from the Gaylord MSP post indicated alcohol was not believed to have been involved and the crash was caused by “reckless and illegal towing.”

The Gaylord MSP post continues to investigate the fatality and once results from a pending autopsy are received, a completed copy of the accident report will be forwarded to the Otsego County prosecutor’s office for review to determine whether any criminal changes will be forthcoming.

Because the crash is still under investigation troopers have declined to release the names of either driver.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Otsego County EMS/Rescue and Charlton Township Fire and Rescue.

Submitted on 12/14/2009

Submitted by: Lori Sevener
Reference: Gaylord Herald Times, December 14, 2009

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I think we've had one or two similar stories in the past but not enough to start calling this sort of stupidity "too common" (yet). Thanks, Lori!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Well, the laws of physics claim yet another thrill-seeker! Unfortunately, the female driver of the Dodge Caravan that did him in is probably traumatized for the foreseeable future, but the stupidity here is just too egregious to pass up! Thanks, Lori!

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