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Laurie Cartwright, who died Saturday night in Blackman Township after a series of crashes (Nov. 15, 2009, courtesy her Facebook page).

Laurie Cartwright, who died Saturday night in Blackman Township after a series of crashes (Nov. 15, 2009, courtesy her Facebook page).

Laurie Cartwright, who died Saturday night in Blackman Township after a series of crashes (Nov. 15, 2009, courtesy her Facebook page).

Laurie Cartwright, who died Saturday night in Blackman Township after a series of crashes (Nov. 15, 2009, courtesy her Facebook page).

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Teen driver dies; may have been texting

Richland teen crashes into semi on I-94 on Friday

Updated: Sunday, 15 Nov 2009, 6:38 PM EST
Published : Sunday, 15 Nov 2009, 5:13 PM EST

    A 17-year-old Richland woman died Friday night after a chain reaction of crashes on I-94.

    Laurie Cartwright, a 2009 Gull Lake High graduate and Western Michigan University student, may have been texting on her cell phone when she collided into a semi-tractor trailer, police say.

    The accident that killed Cartwright occurred at around 8 p.m. But at 7 p.m., a driver with a flat tire stopped his or her car in the passing lane on I-94 near U.S. 127. Although the vehicle's hazard lights were activated, five vehicles crashed into the back of that vehicle, injuring three people. The highway shut down after the collisions.

    A few miles back near Airport Road, Cartwright slammed into the semi. She was on her way to visit friends in the Detroit area, police say.

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