Pontiac, MI – A Flat Rock man lost his life and a passenger remains hospitalized following an ATV crash at a Pontiac intersection Monday, underscoring renewed calls for ATV safety in Michigan.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal incident occurred around 4:55 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Melrose Avenue. Officials said a 25-year-old man, identified as Anthony Thomas Cowgill, was operating a 1987 Yamaha ATV eastbound on Pennsylvania Avenue when he allegedly disregarded a stop sign and collided with a northbound 2020 GMC Terrain.
Sheriff’s deputies stated that the ATV struck the GMC as it passed through the intersection. The GMC, driven by a 37-year-old Pontiac woman, was not involved in any reported injury and the driver was wearing a seatbelt, authorities said.
Cowgill, the ATV operator, was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His passenger, a 31-year-old woman from Macon, Georgia, was hospitalized in serious condition. According to law enforcement, neither the operator nor the passenger was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and the ATV was allegedly not legal for roadway use.
“Once again, a preventable tragedy has occurred,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement, emphasizing the need for proper safety and protective equipment when operating ATVs. Sheriff’s officials added that the incident is being investigated by the department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit.
Authorities said the crash remains under investigation and no further details have been released at this time.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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