A late-night motorcycle ride in Shelby Township ended in tragedy yesterday when a 20-year-old local man was critically injured in a two-bike crash on Woodrow Road and later died at a Grand Rapids hospital. Deputies say the other motorcyclist involved was arrested at the scene, and the case remains under investigation.
What deputies say
According to MLive, Oceana County deputies were called out around 10:07 p.m. yesterday for a collision involving two motorcycles on Woodrow Road near South 112th Avenue in Shelby Township.
Deputies told MLive the 20-year-old victim was performing a wheelie when his motorcycle struck the bike in front of him. He was critically injured at the scene, then airlifted to Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he later died.
Statewide safety context
Motorcycle crashes remain a stubborn traffic safety issue across Michigan. The Michigan State Police 2024 year-end report recorded 168 motorcyclist deaths statewide and highlighted enforcement and public education around helmet use, impairment, and speed as key tools to reduce those numbers.
Investigation and arrest
In this Shelby Township case, deputies said the second rider was a 23-year-old man from New Era, according to MLive. He was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated and was being held at the Oceana County Jail.
Deputies reported that Michigan State Police, Life EMS ambulance crews, and the Shelby-Benona Fire Department all responded to the crash scene, and that the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office. This story will be updated as officials release additional details.
