Update: Michigan driver who crashed car into bee-infested abandoned house identified

ST. CHARLES, MI — A St. Charles man died Wednesday, July 30, after his vehicle crashed into a vacant, bee-infested home in the village.

The 54-year-old man was driving west on Spruce Road at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when his vehicle continued straight at a curve just west of M-52, sending the vehicle crashing into an abandoned home at 216 W. Spruce, the Saginaw County Sheriff's office reports.

Saginaw County Sheriff Lt. Randy Pfau said the incident is still under investigation, but said preliminary findings suggest the crash was related to a medical emergency.

Pfau said people nearby saw the crash and rushed to help the driver, but were driven back by swarms of bees, released when the car struck the home.

"The house, we're being told, has not been occupied for many years," he said. "There were just large swarms of bees within the home. It was so infested, they couldn't get to him."

Pfau said those attempting to help the man then attached a tow strap to the vehicle and pulled it away from the home as Tri-Township firefighters and Saginaw County Sheriff deputies rushed to the scene.

Emergency personnel attempted to save the driver's life, he said.

"They tried to render aid," Pfau said. "It was later determined he was deceased at the scene."

The name of the driver is not being released at this time.

Pfau said he expects an autopsy will be completed as part of the police investigation.

Mark Tower covers local government for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-284-4807, by email at mtower@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.