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Crystal Taylor, 23, remained in critical condition Tuesday at Hurley Medical Center, but is expected to survive, said Lapeer County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Parks. Her daughter Modilyn Taylor, 1, is recovering from bruising. Driver James Enerson, 43, of Ortonville, was not injured.

A reaction to prescription medication may have played a factor in the accident that shut down M-53 for three hours.

"He indicated he fell asleep," Parks said. "There is some indication that he was taking prescribed medicine for a previous injury. Test results are not yet in."

Problems began about 4:16 p.m. when 9-1-1 dispatchers received calls that a 2005 Ford F-250 was driving erratically southbound on M-53 from Marlette. At 4:30 p.m., deputy Mike Tappen discovered a serious injury traffic crash on M-53, south of Bowers Road, involving that same vehicle.

"He first sideswiped a truck that was towing a snowmobile trailer," Parks said. "His truck crossed over into the northbound lane and hit the 1996 Plymouth Neon driven by Crystal Taylor. Another vehicle was hit by debris from the collision."

The Enerson and Taylor vehicles made contact with each other on their front driver's side. Imlay City Fire and Rescue extracted Crystal and her daughter Modilyn from the car.

"They peeled back the roof like a can opener," Parks said. "Crystal was responsive and talking, but suffered severe head trauma. Modilyn suffered minor injuries. She was released from Hurley Medical Center on Saturday."

Modilyn's child safety seat saved her further injury or possible death.

"She was positioned in a safety seat in the rear," Parks said. "Someone that small would have been critically injured if she hadn't been secured properly in her seat. Occupants inside a vehicle are traveling the same speed as the vehicle."

The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department was also assisted at the scene by the Imlay City Police, Lapeer Township Police, and the Michigan Sate Police, Lapeer Post.

"This is the second recent accident where child safety seats saved a young child," said Lapeer County Sheriff Ron Kalanquin. "These children survived because they were safely inside child seats that were installed correctly."

A Feb. 26 crash killed Jeanette Potter, 67, former Oregon Township treasurer. But Heidi Matheny, 2, Potter's granddaughter, a rear seat passenger in the fatality, survived with just bumps and bruises.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com