OCEANA COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) — Two people died in a near-head-on crash on South Oceana Drive in Grant Township on Tuesday afternoon.
Officials reported the collision occurred around 2:15 p.m. on October 27, involving a 2014 Chevy Malibu and a 2021 Hyundai Tucson traveling in opposite directions. The drivers, identified as 21-year-old Austin Martinez of Mt. Morris and 64-year-old Graciela Esqueda of Shelby, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency responders found both individuals trapped in their vehicles. Grant Township Fire utilized extrication equipment to free them. An AeroMed helicopter was called to the scene, landing to assist Life EMS paramedics.
Oceana Drive remained closed for several hours, reopening at 6:22 p.m. As of now, the cause of the crash is under investigation, with a crash reconstruction team on site to assist.
Responding agencies included the Rothbury Police Department, Grant Township Fire and Rescue, Michigan State Police, Oceana County Sheriff's Office Victim Services, AeroMed, and Life EMS.