Farmhand injured in when lift truck hit

A 74 year-old farm worker was slightly injured when the lift truck carrying a load of cherries was struck from behind by an SUV.  The crash happened on Bugai Road at the Hoxie Road intersection at 11:39 am Thursday.  Robert Freeman of Elmwood Township was driving a lift truck with a box of cherries north on Bugai and was struck from behind as he turned West onto Hoxie Road.  The vehicle that struck Freeman was driven by Robert C. Underhill III, 33, of Suttons Bay. 

Underhill told Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies that he saw the farm machinery ahead of him but was going too fast and hit the rear of the equipment.  Freeman was thrown from the lift truck and landed in the middle of the intersection, receiving cuts and scrapes.  He was transported to Munson Medical Center by Northflight EMS.  Underhill was uninjured but received a citation for Failure to Stop in Assured Clear Distance Ahead.

                                 Early morning crash hospitalizes 19 year-old driver

A single car crash at 2:50 am Friday morning sent the 19 year-old driver to Munson Medical Center with incapacitating injuries.  The incident occurred on S. Bow Road near Gilbert Road in Empire Township. 

A resident on Bow Road called Leelanau dispatch to report the sound of what was believed to be a car crash.  The caller said two people were standing near the vehicle and one of them eventually walked into the woods.

Deputies responded and determined that Kadi L. Baarstad, of East Lansing, was driving north at a high rate of speed and was unable to negotiate a curve.  There was no sign of braking and the vehicle left the roadway and struck a large tree.  Both airbags in the vehicle deployed.  Baarstad was transported to Munson Medical Center by Glen Arbor Rescue.

Baarstad said Paige R. Pickard, 19, Glen Arbor, was a passenger in her vehicle but she didn't know where Pickard went. It was unknown if Pickard was injured in the crash.  Attempts by emergency workers to locate her in the area were unsuccessful.

Pickard's parents were contacted to inform them their daughter was involved in a crash.  They said they had been in contact with her and she said she was alright.  The parents later told deputies that their daughter did not want to talk to deputies at that time. 

Alcohol was a factor in the crash.  Probable cause existed to request a blood test and one was conducted as part of the investigation.  The case will be presented to the Leelanau County Prosecutor for review. 

Four state parolees jailed

Four parolees being supervised in several jurisdictions were lodged Thursday in the Leelanau County jail
on parole detainers for probation violations.


Terry L. Welch Jr., 40, Traverse City.  On probation out of Kent County for Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd degree.

Richard G. Shenoskey, 29, Grand Rapids.  On parole in Kent County for Operating While Intoxicated 3rd offense.

Shawn C. Worley, 29, Traverse City.  On parole out of Benzie County for Breaking and Entering and Larceny in a Building.

Terrance J. Pickard, 39, Traverse City.  On parole in Grand Traverse County for Delivery of Marihuana and Delivery of Cocaine < 25 grams.