Two people have died after a crash in Oakfield Township Friday afternoon.
Michigan State Police say the crash happened after 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 30 on M-57 and Lappley Avenue NE. The stretch of 14 Mile Road between Harvard and Wabasis Avenue was closed for about five hours Friday.
13 ON YOUR SIDE is told the crash involved three different vehicles: an ambulance, semi-truck and SUV.
The preliminary investigation reveals the SUV was slowing down on the road when it was hit from the back by a double-trailer semi.
Both the driver and passenger in the SUV died on the scene, and 13 ON YOUR SIDE is told that the victims were an elderly couple from Greenville.
The initial crash caused the SUV to slide into another lane, colliding with an ambulance, investigators say. The ambulance then fell onto its side.
Officials say the ambulance was not loaded.
The drivers from the semi and ambulance suffered minor injuries.
Michigan State Police is urging drivers to stay vigilant on this road, abiding by the speed limit and limiting distractions.
“I can say that this road is a dangerous stretch. I think the speed a lot of times is a factor along with weather,” Sgt. Casey Trucks says. “We’re standing in a cornfield right now. So sometimes animals can get out into the roadway. We have made some efforts to try to slow traffic down to make sure we’re monitoring distracted driving. And we can make sure that we’re all doing our part to avoid those.”
Police say that M-57 between Harvard Avenue and Wabasis Avenue has reopened.
Grand Rapids troopers are on the scene of a serious three vehicle crash on 14 Mile Road near Lappley Ave. The roadway is closed at this time. Details will be released here as they become available. pic.twitter.com/pZONtJQPxF
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
Sadly, this crash is confirmed as a fatal. Please avoid the area as the crash is investigated.
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
M-57 is closed between Harvard and Wabasis.
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
Preliminary investigation reveals that an SUV was slowing on the roadway to turn N/B and was struck from behind by a double trailer semi. The impact caused the SUV to go into the W/B lane and into the path of an ambulance causing the ambulance to over-turn. Both the driver (4/5)
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
and passenger of the SUV were declared deceased on scene. The driver of the semi and ambulance personnel received minor injuries. The roadway remains closed as the investigation continues. (5/5)
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 30, 2022
The roadway is back open. Thank you to Oakfield Twp. Fire, Kent County Sheriff’s, Rockford Ambulance, and Kent County Medical Examiner for your assistance at the scene.
— MSP Sixth District (@mspwestmi) December 31, 2022
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.