Crystal River Outfitters closed after car crash ignites fire
Photo by Linda Dewey
From staff reports
Story updated Monday, August 9: The Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department stated in a press release this morning that the driver of the car was a 19-year-old Suttons Bay man who died at the scene. He was driving a 2013 Honda Civic eastbound at a high rate of speed. The vehicle exited the roadway to the right, travelled through an unimproved area along the river before entering the outfitters building and coming to rest. The vehicle sustained significant damage as a result of the crash and subsequently started on fire. No one else was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
A driver speeding through Glen Arbor early yesterday morning, Saturday, Aug. 7, allegedly crashed into Crystal River Outfitters on M-22 just east of downtown, setting the building on fire. The identity and condition of the driver has not been officially announced. On its Facebook page yesterday, Crystal River Outfitters referred to the crash as a “tragic event and fire.”
At 6:35 a.m. the Glen Lake Fire Department, along with Cedar Area Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire with visible smoke and flames at Crystal River Outfitters. The incident was called in by a passing motorist, reported Fire Chief Bryan Ferguson.
The first Glen Lake Fire units arrived at 6:40 a.m. and reported active fire. During suppression activities, the firefighters noticed a motor vehicle inside that building. A majority of the fire was brought under control quickly and crews worked for several hours doing salvage and overhaul and assisting with the removal of the vehicle from the building. Crews also assisted the property owners in salvaging some business-related items.
All fire crews cleared the scene at 12:10 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office is handling all further investigation into the incident. The Sheriffs Department will hold a press conference at 10:30 am on Monday.
Crystal River Outfitters, a popular kayak, canoe and tube livery which sends tourists down the Crystal River, will be closed indefinitely.
This morning, however, the company’s other businesses, including the Cyclery and Coastal, reopened on the north side of M-22, across the street from the scene of the accident.
“Thank you to our first responders,” Crystal River Outfitters posted on Facebook. “Please keep those affected by this tragedy in your thoughts, and as always we thank our wonderful community for your support.”
Stay tuned for updates about the accident and about Crystal River Outfitters.
