An early-morning rollover on Pettis Avenue NE in Cannon Township, Kent County, turned fatal Monday when a 25-year-old man from Jackson died at a local hospital after the crash. The wreck was reported around 6:19 a.m. on June 29, and deputies shut down Pettis Avenue between Five Mile Road and Cannonsburg Road for several hours while they worked the scene.
According to MLive, a Kent County Sheriff’s sergeant said a preliminary investigation showed the driver lost control before the vehicle rolled and struck a guardrail. Two people were inside the vehicle, and authorities have publicly identified the passenger only as a 25-year-old man from Jackson.
Michigan Legal Center reported that Pettis Avenue between Five Mile and Cannonsburg was closed while crews handled the aftermath of the crash. Deputies with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and have not yet released additional details.
Where the crash happened
The rollover happened on a rural stretch of Pettis Avenue northeast of Grand Rapids, a county route that shows up not just on GPS maps but in local planning documents. Ada Township’s downtown development packet lists Pettis Avenue among corridors slated for design work and trail connections, underscoring the road’s dual role as both an everyday route and a recreational connector.
Local safety context
This crash comes on the heels of other serious incidents in Cannon Township this year, including a fatal pedestrian crash on 9 Mile Road earlier in the spring, as covered in coverage of a 78-year-old pedestrian’s death. The string of serious wrecks has renewed attention on safety along rural county roads, where higher speeds and limited sight lines can make any mistake far less forgiving.
Deputies told MLive that the Kent County Sheriff’s Office remains the lead agency on the investigation and asked anyone with information about the rollover to contact the department. This story will be updated if officials release more details.
