Flat Rock Man Dies, Woman Injured in Pontiac ATV Crash

A 25-year-old Flat Rock man, Anthony Thomas Cowgill, died after crashing a 1987 Yamaha ATV into a 2020 GMC Terrain at an intersection in Pontiac, Michigan. The ATV, which was not legal for on-road use, ran a stop sign and struck the SUV driven by a 37-year-old Pontiac woman, who was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured. Cowgill's 31-year-old passenger from Macon, Georgia, was hospitalized with serious injuries, and neither occupant was wearing a helmet. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the incident as a preventable tragedy that highlights the importance of safety and proper equipment use when operating ATVs. The crash remains under investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Michigan saw 396 crashes involving off-road vehicles in 2023, including 22 fatal crashes, underscoring ongoing concerns about ATV safety in the state.