Basic Facts
Crash date: June 7, 2026
Crash location: State Highway 28 near Pirkola Road west of Watton, MI
People involved:
- Gary Conkright, 67
- Unidentified truck driver, 60
Do authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash? Unknown
Did authorities recommend criminal charges? Unknown
Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash? Unknown
Accident Report
Baraga County, MI — June 7, 2026, Gary Conkright was killed in a truck accident at about 2 p.m. on State Highway 28 west of Watton.
Authorities said a semi-truck and another vehicle collided head-on near Pirkola Road, causing the truck and its trailer to catch fire after it overturned and struck a power line.
The driver of the other vehicle, 67-year-old Iron River resident Gary Conkright, was pronounced dead at the scene of the Covington Township crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Baraga County crash at this time.
How Did This Accident Occur?
It’s not clear what caused this crash at this point. One of these vehicles likely veered out of its lane on State Highway 28, but why? Was the driver distracted, perhaps by a cell phone? Did someone swerve because of an obstacle in the road? Did one vehicle have an issue with its brakes or steering mechanism? These are the kind of questions that authorities much consider as they work to reconstruct this accident.
Investigators likely will start by gathering physical evidence, witness statements, data from both vehicles and any available video footage to piece together this crash. Cell phone records could show what each driver was doing at the time.
If authorities suspect a mechanical problem contributed to the crash, a qualified expert should conduct a forensic examination of the vehicles. Most law enforcement agencies don’t have the time or training for such inspections, in my experience, but the fallen driver’s family deserves to know as much as possible about this crash.
Did you witness this accident? Let us know what you saw in the comments.
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