A weekend car crash near Imlay City has claimed the life of a Sandusky man. According to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s department, the crash occurred around 5am Saturday morning along M-53 in Lapeer County’s Imlay Township. A mini-van traveling north had side-swiped an oncoming car while driving around a curve. The opposing vehicle spun on on the shoulder and the driver was uninjured. The van, operated by a 41 year old from Hamtramack, then proceeded to drive north in the southbound lane when it struck another oncoming car head on. 48 year old Gary Franzel of Sandusky was the driver and lone occupant of the southbound car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of van was taken to a Lapeer area hospital and M-53 was closed for over three hours for accident investigations. Sheriff’s deputies say neither alcohol nor excessive speed are believed to be factors and the Hamtramck man is expected to face charges.
