TC Woman Killed In Crash

Nov. 25, 2015

Wintry weather and speed contributed to a head-on crash that claimed the life of a 71-year-old Traverse City woman.

Fran Denawetz was killed in the crash on M-72 Monday afternoon, Kalkaska County Sheriff’s deputies say. The driver of a second vehicle, 76-year-old Sterling Heights resident Gerald Winkler, was taken to Munson Medical Center in stable condition.

Denawetz’s vehicle crossed the center line as she came to the top of a hill and Winkler, coming the other way, was unable to avoid a collision.

The crash occurred near Lake Valley Road in Bear Lake Township at 1pm. The highway was closed for two-and-a-half hours during the investigation.

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