Rockford Michigan State Police Post Commander Chris McIntire said alcohol may have been a factor in a crash that killed a 30-year-old first grade teacher on his way to work early Monday, November 23.
McIntire said the driver who caused the crash was headed the wrong way on the East Beltline and hit the car of Aaron Haynes, of Grand Rapids. Haynes was northbound and the truck driven by the other man, unidentified at press time, was headed southbound in the northbound lane. The accident happened near the Five Mile intersection at 7:15 a.m. in Plainfield Township.
McIntire said the unidentified driver had a Washington state identification card. “We can’t tell if he had a Michigan driver’s license,” he said. He is a 38-year-old Latino male who was in stable condition Monday afternoon.
Detectives found liquor bottles and cans in the vehicle, and he may have been driving without headlights. Police hope witnesses will come forward with more information.
McIntire said there was no evidence either vehicle braked prior to the collision. The area is not lighted by streetlights.
McIntire declined to identify the school or district where Haynes worked and said the children there were in crisis intervention because of the tragedy.
Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Joe Young of the Michigan State Police at (616) 866-4411.
Comments by our Readers