A woman dies and her husband is seriously injured when the M-50 crashes

JACKSON COUNTY, MI – A Napoleon woman was killed Wednesday in a truck accident that also seriously injured her husband.

Ruth Ann Burnette, 80, died Oct. 30 when she succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash at the intersection of M-50 and Napoleon Road, according to Napoleon Township police.

Investigators determined her husband, Gary Burnette, 79, was driving a Kia SUV south on Napoleon Road and was turning left onto M-50 when the vehicle was struck by an oncoming semi-truck traveling west, police said.

Witnesses and dash camera footage from the truck showed the Kia entering the intersection when the trailer was too close to avoid the collision, despite the truck driver’s attempt to swerve to avoid the Kia, police said.

The Burnettes were taken to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital for treatment, where Ruth Burnette died and her husband is in serious but stable condition, police said.

The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital and treated and released for minor injuries, police said.

The roadway in Napoleon Township was closed for two hours while crews removed the Burnettes from their vehicle and police investigated the scene.

The Napoleon Township Fire Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Community Ambulance and Garver’s Towing assisted at the scene.

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