3 dead after Christmas Day head-on crash on 8 Mile Road border of Salem Township and Lyon Township

LYON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - Three people were killed and one injured Christmas Day in a head-on car accident on Eight Mile Road, along the border of Salem Township and Lyon Township.

The crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. as people in both cars were going to family gatherings for Christmas.

In one car, a Honda, two women and a man were killed. The Oakland County Sheriff has identified them as Mary Hammon, 68, Jackie Hammon, 71, and Judith Shedell, 66, of Salem Township.

The three were just about a mile from their home in the Northville Crossings community when the crash happened.

The woman riding along in the second car, a Ford Taurus, was taken to Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.  She is from Livonia, and is in stable condition.

It is not known if weather was a factor.  The crash happened in a low part of the road where ice has been known to form.

This is also a rural stretch of road with only two lanes and where the speed limit is 55.

The road remained closed well into Tuesday night as investigators worked the scene.  Accident reconstruction experts will review the evidence gathered before any decisions as to charges are made.

Some family members of the victims came out to the scene and they were moved to a different location while clergy was called to help them deal with the tragedy.