MARTIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 17-year-old high school student from Portage has died following a wrong-way crash on US-131 on Sunday morning.
According to Portage Public Schools, the student, a member of Community High School, succumbed to her injuries after being involved in the collision. The crash occurred when a vehicle traveling the wrong way on northbound US-131 collided with hers.
The drivers of both vehicles, along with the front seat passenger in the victim's car, were pronounced dead at the scene. The student and two other rear-seat passengers sustained severe injuries.
Investigation reveals that Erin Louise Jones, 38, from Grand Rapids, was responsible for the wrong-way driving. Authorities stated she had exited at 129th Avenue and then entered northbound US-131 before making a U-turn.
Another motorist alerted 911 about Jones's actions, and an officer from the Gun Lake Tribal Police attempted to intervene before the crash occurred a few miles later. Alcohol is suspected to have contributed to the incident.
Portage Public Schools expressed deep sorrow over the student's death, providing counseling resources for those affected. Additionally, it was confirmed that one of the deceased was a former student at Portage Northern High School.
The driver of the victim's vehicle has been identified as 18-year-old Emmanuel Browning from Kalamazoo. The surviving victims in the rear seat are also teenagers.