News
4 people injured when driver blows through a stop sign
COURTLAND TWP., Mich—Four people were injured Friday night after the driver of one of the two cars involved sped through a stop sign, according to police. A red Oldsmobile sedan, driven by 21-year-old Alexander Weyerman, of Rockford, traveling on Courtland Dr. NE, is said to have gone through a stop sign at 12 Mile Rd. NE at a high rate of speed, hitting a black sedan in the passenger side. The black sedan was occupied by Richard, 67, and Nancy Dutcher, 66, of Rockford. The red car spun off the road into a tree as a result of the impact. Weyerman's brother, Zachary Weyerman, 23, was the passenger in the red car and was taken to the hospital via a medical helicopter with head wounds. The other three people injured were transported to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries.
Teen girl pulled from SUV fire on M-37
By Ryan Takeo YANKEE SPRINGS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A car crash that resulted in a vehicle fire sent one teenage girl to a hospital with serious burns. Authorities said an SUV was traveling north on M-37 near Shaw Lake Road in Yankee Springs Township around 1 p.m. Sunday. When its driver slowed to make a left-hand turn, a silver truck struck the SUV from behind, police said. The SUV then caught fire. Jim Barnes -- who lives near the scene -- heard the crash and then saw the flames. He and other onlookers quickly noticed there was still a passenger in the back seat.
"We just see everyone saying, 'There's another girl inside, there's another girl inside.' And then I see my stepdad run over there into the smoke and I was worried about that," said Barnes' stepdaughter Kayla Pouliot. "It was terrifying thinking you were going to have to watch a teenage girl burn to death," said Barnes. "You know there's a point where you gotta back away, but you don't want to." Barnes and other witnesses pulled that victim out of the SUV and took her to a neighbor's yard. Then Pouliot recognized the victim as Jessica Eckhoff who Pouliot is classmates with at Thornapple Kellogg High School. "It really does break every piece of my body to know that that's someone that I know," said Pouliot. Eckhoff was soon airlifted to a hospital and listed in fair condition on Sunday evening.
Crash kills popular waitress, husband; Gary and Carol Berenbrock from Conklin
Updated: Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 9:23 AM EDT By Joe LaFurgey SCOTTVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Friends say Carol Berenbrock was a fixture at two popular downtown Grand Rapids restaurants over the quarter century. On Monday, Lisa Verhil, wife of Cottage Bar and One Trick Pony owner Dan Verhil, was faced with the difficult task of calling coworkers and customers alike to let them know about Berenbrock's tragic death. "We're deeply devastated by this loss," Verhil told 24 Hour News 8. The 54-year-old Berenbrock and her husband, 55-year-old Gary Berenbrock, were killed in a crash that occurred about 1:30 Sunday afternoon in Mason County. Long-time friend Dave Hankamp described Gary Berenbrock as a "real fun-loving guy," who helped his son's racing team and Berlin Raceway. Details are still emerging, but the Mason County Sheriff's Office says the Berenbrocks were on their motorcycle on northbound U.S. 31, south of Fountain Road near Scottville, when they were struck by a southbound vehicle that swerved into their lane. The local fire chief lives just yards from where the accident happened. Even he was shaken up by what he saw. "It was pretty bad," said Fountain Fire Department Chief Roger Berndt. "It was one of the graphic more scenes that I've seen in a long time." Witnesses said they heard brakes squeal and the sound of the impact, but there was nothing anyone could do. A friend of the Conklin couple on another motorcycle witnessed the crash. Verhil said they're trying to get the word out to people about the tragedy. Employees of the two downtown restaurants plan to meet privately Monday night to remember their friends and grieve their loss. Authorities are still investigating why the other vehicle swerved into the northbound lane.
Grand Rapids motorcyclist in serious condition after collision with Rapid bus
WYOMING, MI – Police say a motorcyclist seriously injured in a collision with a Rapid Go Bus struck the rear of an oncoming bus as it turned in front of him on 28th Street SW at Taft Avenue. The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old Grand Rapids man, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital in serious condition. His name was not released. Accident investigators remained on the scene, Wyoming Police Capt. Kim Koster said. The motorcyclist was traveling east on 28th Street in the left lane when the westbound bus turned left onto Taft, police said. The driver and a passenger on the bus were unhurt in the 2:16 p.m. crash.
Woman Sentenced for Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Boy
Stacy Rosset, 37, from Howard City was sentenced to 2 to 15 years in prison after pleading no contest to operating while intoxicated causing death. Rosset dabbed tears from her eyes as she waited to hear her sentence. The honorable George Buth told her that he understands she is remorseful but said, “I cannot change what happened.” In August 2011, Rosset – a single mother of two girls – told police she was drinking before causing the crash at killed an 8-year-old boy. Investigators say she was driving south on Harvard Avenue in Northeastern Kent County when she ran a stop sign at M-57 and slammed into a minivan carrying a family from Sand Lake. The van rolled and Brody Mulnix, 8, died on the scene, four other members of his family were injured. Keary Sawyer, Rosset’s lawyer, says the stop sign was covered by a construction detour sign and the corner "was just waiting for an accident to happen." In court on Wednesday, the victim’s family chose not to speak, but Rosset apologized. “I pray for (the Mulnix family) every day,” she said. “I hope they find some forgiveness, not that they have to like me as a person, but to help them go through each day of their life without the resentment and bitterness they feel now.” Police say after the crash, Rosset’s blood alcohol level was .117. The legal limit in Michigan is .08.
Woman pleads not guilty to crash that killed 4
(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A Niles woman has pleaded not guilty in a fiery head-on crash that killed four people. Prosecutors say Cecilia Cheney is responsible for that crash. It happened in Milton Township in October. Investigators say her pick-up crossed the center line and slammed into an Indiana couple's van. The couple died, along with their one-year-old son and the child's grandmother. Cheney faces four counts of moving violations causing death. She faces up to a year in jail on each count if convicted.
Hearing pushed back in Wyoming drunk driving crash
KENT COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A teenager accused of killing two classmates in a drunk driving crash was in court today. Police said 17-year-old Takunda Mavima was driving drunk with five friends in his car when he crashed on I-196 in Wyoming. Two passengers in the back seat, Timothy See and Krysta Howell were killed. All the teens involved were students at Wyoming Park High School. Seniors there graduated last night, and Mavima would have graduated, but did not participate. See would have graduated last night as well. Today, Mavima was in court where a judge was supposed to decide if there is enough evidence to send him to trial. Mavima walked into court with family, as he has been out on bond. Instead of finding out if he will go to trial, however, attorneys on both sides asked the judge for more time and there won't be a decision for several weeks. His preliminary hearing will now take place on June 20th.
Car crashes into group of Muskegon motorcyclists
TAYCHEEDAH, Wisc. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Police in Wisconsin are investigating a deadly crash involving a group of Michigan motorcyclists. The bikers were headed north on Highway 151 through the city of Taycheedah when a car going the opposite direction crashed head-on into the group. One of the motorcyclists died at the scene. Three more bikers and the driver of the car were flown to the hospital. Five others were taken by ambulance. The local sheriff's office is investigating the crash.
Thursday the names of the victims were released. They are:
Deceased: Daniel Lee Winsemius, 59 yrs old, Twin Lake, MI
Marvin John Vanderkolk, 63 y rs old, Fruitport, MI (Treated & Released)
Eric Charles Vandam , 52 yrs old, Muskegon, MI (Critical Condition)
William Brad Groom, 57 yrs old, Muskegon, MI (No Injury)
Garry Lee Ferris 52 yrs old, Muskegon, MI
Douglas Wayne Williams, 58 yrs old, Muskegon, MI (Critical Condition)
Leland Roe Johnson, 58 yrs old, Muskegon, MI
Lawrence Charles Monroe, yrs old, Muskegon, MI (Treated & Released)
Douglas Allan Yonkers, 43 yrs old, Muskegon, MI (Critical Condition)
Paul Czekus, 57 yrs old, Ravenna, MI (Treated & Released)
A prayer vigil was held for the victims June 2nd at Heritage Landing in Muskegon.
1 person taken to hospital after 2 car accident in Cooper Township
COOPER TOWNSHIP, MI – One person was taken to a hospital after a two car accident at the intersection of West F Avenue and 14th Street around 5 p.m. Saturday. One person was put in an ambulance on a stretcher and taken to a hospital for precautionary measures, a Cooper Township firefighter said. One other person was treated for minor injuries at the scene. A Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office deputy on the scene said he couldn't provide any more details about the accident. Both cars were sitting in a yard on the northwest corner of the intersection after the accident.