'Tragic' accident claims life of 16-year-old

By Erin McClary
C & G Staff Writer

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 16-year-old Macomb Township girl was pronounced dead at the scene of a car accident on 23 Mile Road, near I-94, May 18.

Stephanie Lynn Schultz-Etherton, an Anchor Bay High School student, was pulling out of a McDonald’s parking lot when her vehicle was struck on the driver-side door. A 30-year-old New Baltimore woman was behind the wheel of the sports utility vehicle that collided with the car driven by Schultz-Etherton.

The other driver, who had the right of way, was headed eastbound on 23 Mile when the girl’s vehicle pulled out in front of her, said Detective Sgt. Deron Myers of the Chesterfield Township Police Department.

Neither speed nor alcohol appears to have played a factor in the collision.

“It appears that the deceased pulled out into oncoming traffic,” Myers said. “No witnesses said she was on the phone or that she was reaching down. … We may never be able to determine exactly what made her pull out.”

The accident happened at around 5 p.m. The 17-year-old and 19-year-old passengers in Schultz-Etherton’s vehicle, both Center Line residents, were transported to a local hospital and, at press time, were listed in serious but stable condition. The New Baltimore woman was also transferred to the hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.

At this point, Myers said, investigators can only look at the accident as just that: an accident. He called that particular area of 23 Mile Road “just a busy stretch.” After the accident, 23 Mile was shut down for several hours and traffic was routed to alternative roads while investigators dissected the scene.

“Accident investigators and detectives are still reconstructing (and) investigating the crash at this time,” said Myers. “At this point we don’t anticipate any criminal charges.”

A representative at Anchor Bay High School said a school psychologist was in the building May 19 counseling students who are grieving Shultz-Etherton’s untimely death. Administrators did not return calls by press time.

“We had to notify parents that were out of town at the time of the accident,” Myers said. “It’s just tragic.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Erin McClary at emcclary@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1118.