Hartland Woman Pleads No Contest in Injury Crash

A Hartland woman pleaded no contest Monday in connection with a May traffic accident that injured a pedestrian.

Christine E. Gershon, 44, will face sentencing Aug. 30 before Judge Carol Sue Reader in 53rd District Court on charges of committing a moving violation causing serious impairment of a person's body function and unlawful use of a license plate.

In exchange for the no contest plea, the third count against Gershon — operating an unregistered vehicle — was dropped. The moving violation is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of 93 days of incarceration and/or a $500 fine.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such by the court for sentencing purposes.

Police say Gershon was driving a 1997 Honda Civic on May 10 on Maxfield Road in Hartland when she sideswiped Donald Powell, 64, of Hartland, who was walking on the side of the road. The passenger side mirror struck Powell, who was heading north near Odette Road, between Handy and Maxfield lakes. 

The impact of the collision threw Powell onto the windshield of the car, and he was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries.   

Gershon and a passenger in the vehicle were not injured.