On a rural corner of Overisel Township, a Wednesday evening drive turned deadly when a woman was killed, and another driver was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of 146th Avenue and 36th Street in Allegan County. Deputies said an SUV and a pickup collided around 5:45 p.m., ejecting the SUV driver, who died at the scene, while the pickup driver was flown to a Grand Rapids hospital. The intersection was shut down for several hours as crews worked the scene and cleared the wreckage.
Preliminary findings indicate the SUV driver failed to stop at a stop sign and pulled into the path of a westbound pickup, causing the collision, according to MLive. Deputies told the outlet that both drivers were alone in their vehicles and confirmed the SUV driver was ejected and died at the scene.
Rescue and response
Emergency crews from Overisel and Salem Township fire departments, Michigan State Police, and AMR ambulance responded to the crash, and an AeroMed helicopter landed to airlift the pickup driver to a Grand Rapids hospital for treatment, WKZO reported. Crash reconstruction investigators documented the intersection before it was reopened several hours later. Local responders said the pickup driver was seriously injured and transported by air for specialized care.
Traffic trends in Allegan County
Rural two-lane intersections remain a frequent backdrop for serious crashes in Allegan County, a pattern reflected in state safety reporting and local records. The Michigan State Police SRP annual report and county data point to recurring serious-injury and fatal crashes on secondary roads, a trend officials attribute in part to high speeds on rural routes.
Investigation
Allegan County Sheriff's deputies are continuing to investigate the crash. Authorities have not released the drivers' names or said whether impairment or other factors played a role, MLive reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office or central dispatch at the numbers listed on the county site.
