By Cole Waterman
mlive.com
MONITOR TOWNSHIP, Mich. — In the opening hours of 2024, Bay County Central Dispatch was flooded with calls reporting numerous crashes and vehicles spinning out on an icy stretch of US-10. Among the callers was Monitor Township Firefighter Jeff Sargeson, calling in to report three vehicles crashed near the Interstate 75 ramp.
“Get everybody you can rolling this way,” Sargeson told dispatchers. “This bridge is solid ice.”
“We’ll get somebody as soon as we can,” a dispatcher replied.
Sargeson went on to request ambulances and rattle off motorists’ injuries, adding one vehicle had struck his departmental truck.
“It looks like one car is trying to take off, the one that hit my truck,” he said. “And here comes another one.”
At that point, Sargeson’s voice was abruptly cut off by a clamor, for he was struck by another vehicle. Moments later, he called back to Central Dispatch, saying he had been hit.
“I don’t remember anything,” Sargeson said. “I got hit by something. My leg is injured, and I don’t know what happened.”
Recordings of the calls were obtained by MLive via a Freedom of Information Act request, as were police reports related to the incident. The calls paint a chaotic scene, with callers sounding strained, frantic, and confused.
Despite being able to get back on his feet after the impact, Sargeson eventually lost consciousness and would be hospitalized. The person who struck him, though, drove away from the scene, only to contact police through his attorney a few days later.
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What the reports show
Calls regarding the crashes near the 162-mile marker on US-10 began coming in about 1:44 a.m. on Jan. 1 . Sargeson was the first firefighter to respond, with he and his peers helping the civilians involved. While performing his duty, a black sedan struck Sargeson’s truck.
Not long after, an eastbound blue pickup truck spun out and struck a sign marking the northbound Interstate 75 ramp, then Sargeson. The truck continued going, leaving fragments of its bumper and a headlight assembly. The black sedan was also abandoned, with three sets of footprints leading from it toward Bay City, reports state.
“I just remember it went to hell fast,” Sargeson said, speaking with MLive. “Once I got hit, I don’t remember anything. I don’t even remember calling Central Dispatch back.”
While he was still on scene, his mother sent him a text message, saying she heard the crash on her police scanner and wanted him to let her know he was OK. Sargeson said he called his mother, only to mumble into the mouthpiece. Another firefighter took the phone from him and told his mother he had been hurt, he said.
Sargeson was taken to Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw where he was admitted in critical condition. He remained hospitalized until Jan. 4, having suffered a head injury, broken ankle, broken leg, bruised and broken ribs, and numerous cuts and bruises.
Police soon determined the vehicle that struck Sargeson was a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado. On Jan. 5, attorney Brian H. Jean contacted police on behalf of the alleged driver. Jean’s client provided investigators with the Chevy’s location, after which they impounded the vehicle.
The suspect driver declined to be interviewed by police, reports state. Contacted by MLive, Jean had no comment on the matter, as his client has not been charged with any crimes related to the crash.
The seized Chevy bore damage consistent with that of the vehicle that struck Sargeson, police wrote in their reports. They also noted the Chevy was traveling too fast for conditions when its driver lost control.
Police on Feb. 23 spoke with staff at the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office regarding the case.
“The prosecutor advised I did not have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt (redacted suspect) was the driver,” a Michigan State Police trooper wrote. “The prosecutor advised I could attempt an interview with (the suspect) but would need a confession of guilt.”
The MSP on April 25 confirmed to MLive that they are still following up on investigative leads before presenting their evidence to prosecutors.
Meanwhile, a still convalescing Sargeson is hopeful the person who struck him will face charges. He is still experiencing many issues with his hip and back, with surgeries planned. He also is having vision issues from his head injury.
“I still don’t know how I survived it,” he said. He thanked the community, his colleagues at the Monitor Township Fire Department, and the MSP for all they’ve done since the crash.
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