Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

August 29, 2008

Authorities identify victim of fatal crash

FROM STAFF REPORTS

BELLAIRE -- Authorities identified John Raymond Muhonen, 38, as the man who died this week in a one-vehicle crash in rural Antrim County.

Muhonen, who lived in both Kewadin and Kalkaska, died early Wednesday after he failed to make a turn from Montgomery Road to Ritt Road in Kearney Township. His 1999 Oldsmobile traveled at a high rate of speed and spun out of control after reaching a two-track portion of Montgomery Road. It rolled several times and stopped about 600 feet from the intersection.

It appeared Muhonen was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol may have been a factor, according to a news release from the Antrim County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities await confirmation from toxicology test results.

State records show Muhonen did not have a valid driver's license since 1999 after a series of drunken driving and open intoxicant convictions. He had eight various alcohol-related convictions on his record between 1988 and 2005, said Fred Woodhams, spokesman for the Michigan Secretary of State's Office.

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