Jarrod Robert Smith, 15, and Karen Kay Smith, 52, killed in crash with tanker truck in Burtchville Township on July 17.

Authorities say a 15-year-old driver and his mother are dead following a crash involving a tanker truck hauling milk in St. Clair County. The sheriff’s department says Jarrod Robert Smith, who had a learner’s permit, was driving an SUV around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Burtchville Township when he stopped at an intersection and turned left into the path of the semi. The department says the Wixom boy and his 52-year-old mother, Karen Kay Smith, died. The boy’s 21-year-old sister Kaitlyn Smith was in the back seat and was taken to a hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released. The truck driver was identified as a 72-year-old from Almont.  Take these important steps after a truck accident in Michigan As the trucking industry grows in Michigan, more and more truck accidents occur. Commercial trucks are common on the roads, and their size, weight, and many blind spots pose significant dangers to other drivers. And when a truck accident occurs, victims often suffer serious, debilitating injuries that require long-term medical care. Fatality truck accidents are common. An experienced Michigan truck accident attorney on your side can hire experts such as engineers and accident re-constructionists to go to the scene to preserve and document evidence. Go here to learn more about the next steps to take after a serious or fatal Michigan truck accident.