BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — A 19-year-old driver died and three passengers were injured in a crash early Friday morning on Fuller Avenue.
According to the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred just before 3 a.m. when a pickup truck reached the end of the road where the pavement ends. Authorities said the truck struck a boulder, rolled multiple times, and collided with a tree.
The driver, a 19-year-old from Morley, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The three passengers—14 and 18 years old from Six Lakes and Rockford, respectively, and a 19-year-old from Fremont—sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Corewell Hospital in Big Rapids.
Witnesses reported that one of the passengers called 911 to report the crash. Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller described the scene as challenging for first responders.
“It's sad when you arrive on scene and see the circumstances involved,” Miller said. Investigators believe alcohol may have played a role in the crash, emphasizing the risks of underage drinking and inexperience.
In the aftermath, a growing roadside memorial has appeared along Fuller Avenue in remembrance of the victim. The investigation remains ongoing, with updates expected.
Authorities said more information will be released as it becomes available.