Accident claims lives of two Clinton students, one from Manchester

Sam Simkiss, one of four Clinton High School seniors who were in a serious accident on September 20, also had strong ties to Manchester. Sam died at the scene of the accident.

Despite a long-standing football rivalry, the communities of Clinton and Manchester are very intertwined, with businesses, schools, services, and friendships among students bridging both sides of the Washtenaw-Lenawee County lines.

And so it was when last Monday, September 20, an automobile accident took the lives of two Clinton high school seniors and seriously injured two more, the tragedy deeply affected both communities. Troopers from the Monroe Post of the Michigan State Police were called to the scene on N. Adrian Hwy, and determined an SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed south on the roadway when it went off the side of the road, struck a large boulder in the front yard of a residence, overturned several times, and came to rest 20 feet into a section of woods.

Samuel Kyle Simkiss, 17, of Manchester, was one of the victims who perished at the accident scene. He was the son of Jeffrey and Melissa Simkiss. His grandparents were Richard and Linda Simkiss of Napoleon (formerly of Manchester) and Ted and Kay Miller of Manchester. He worked on the Vershum farm in Bridgewater Township during the summer months.

The other victims included Cobey Pouliot, 17, who also died at the scene; Zachary Hodges, the driver of the vehicle, was flown to St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo with life-threatening injuries; and Kyle Wenk was transported to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor and is now recovering at home.

Clinton Superintendent of Schools Jim Cracraft said in a letter to the community, "The district extends our deepest sympathy, prayers, and condolences to the affected families. Please keep our students and their families in your thoughts and prayers. We all need to take care of each other right now as we struggle to comprehend this terrible tragedy."

"Say I love you and hug your kids every day," said Kyle Wenk's mother in a Facebook post. "It only takes a second."

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.