(UPDATED: 9:18 a.m.) Police: Patterson, two others, not wearing seatbelts in Aug. 10 car accident

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson remains in stable condition after suffering injuries as an unrestrained passenger in a car accident on Friday, Aug. 10.

Bill Mullan, Patterson’s media and communications officer, said on Monday, Aug. 13 that no release date for the five-term county executive — who has undergone at least two surgeries to repair orthopedic injuries and is “resting comfortably” — has been set.

County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, Jr. said Patterson suffered broken wrists, a broken leg and a laceration to his forehead during the accident.

According to Thom Hardesty, public information officer for the Auburn Hills Police Department, a preliminary investigation revealed that neither Patterson, nor the 60-year-old Owosso driver of the black Chrysler 300 he was riding in or the 31-year-old Royal Oak driver of a Volkswagen Passat involved in the accident at Walton Boulevard and Opdyke Road, were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Police said it appears that the Volkswagen failed to yield the right-of-way, causing the crash.

“The prayers and words of support that continue to roll in have buoyed Brooks, his family, and staff,” said Chief Deputy County Executive Gerald Poisson in a statement released by Mullan. “Thank you to everyone for sending their positive thoughts. They help more than you could imagine.”

First responders were called to the scene around 4 p.m. on Friday, where there had been a two-vehicle accident involving the Chrysler and the Volkswagen.

The Chrysler 300 was traveling eastbound on Walton. When it entered the road’s intersection with Opdyke on a green traffic signal, it struck the Volkswagen, which was turning southbound in front of the vehicle in which Patterson was riding in the front seat.

Patterson was transported to McLaren Oakland Hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Auburn Hills Police Department. The driver of the Chrysler, as well as the driver and 51-year-old passenger of the Volkswagen, were transported to area hospitals with serious, but also non-life-threatening, injuries.

The Volkswagen sustained damage to the passenger side, while the Chrysler had “significant” front-end damage, police said.

Because of the extend of the injuries sustained in the crash, the case will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review when the investigation is complete. There’s been no decision on whether to issue citations.

Neither alcohol or drugs appear to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Auburn Hills Police Department at 248-370-9444.

Patterson, through Mullan, requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Brooksie Way, the quality of life event started by Patterson following the death of his son in a 2007 snowmobile accident.