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The accident occurred as Betty Jane Dutko, 65, of Hadley Township, was driving her 2006 Pontiac station wagon westbound on Hegel Road about 1:34 p.m. Hadley Township Supervisor Bill Dutko, 66, her husband, was in the front passenger seat. Driver Lauren Ashley Hughes, 16, of Goodrich, was southbound on Bittersweet Lane in a green 1995 Mercury car. There were two passengers inside the Hughes vehicle, but names weren't immediately available.

Hughes turned out of Bittersweet Lane and into the pathway of the Dutko vehicle, reported Lapeer County Sheriff's Department deputies Mark Radenbaugh and Dale Harmon.

In an effort to avoid a collision, Betty Jane applied her brakes and moved away from the lane, said Bill.

"We had no choice but to crash," said Bill. "The young lady pulled right out in the roadway and we "T-boned" her."

The impact propelled Hughes's car into a ravine off Hegel Road. Bill called 9-1-1.

"After making sure that Betty Jane was in good condition, I ran down to check on the people in the other car," Dutko said. "The driver was in a lot of pain, and crying. She was complaining about pain from her seat belt, so I cut it loose. She was pinned inside her car. The other two teens appeared to be in good condition."

Hadley Township firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free Hughes from her car. Hadley Township First Responders rendered aid to the accident victims. Hughes was transported by Lapeer County EMS to Hurley Medical Center in Flint. The Dutko car was driveable and Bill transported Betty Jane to Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc. The Hughes car had to be towed.

Hughes, a sophomore from Goodrich High School, is recovering at home from her injuries.

"She broke two ribs and a pelvic bone," said her mother Robin Hughes. "She has to lie flat for two weeks, and we're uncertain if she will be able to return to school or not after that."

Betty Jane is recovering from torn muscle tissue at her home; Bill wasn't hurt.

"We both very lucky," Dutko said. "We were on our way to a Mother's Day dinner with our children. Everything could have changed in an instant. The teenagers are also very lucky. Their car could have easily flipped when it went into the ravine. The injuries would have been much worse."

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