by GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A tragic early morning crash on northbound US-131 in Grand Rapids claimed the life of one man and left three others seriously injured on Wednesday.
The collision occurred around 5:50 a.m. on the stretch of US-131 over 6th Street, just north of the I-196 interchange. According to Michigan State Police, the incident began when a van struck a disabled pickup truck stopped in the center lane. Moments later, a semi-truck slammed into the van, causing a devastating chain reaction.
The van’s driver, a 35-year-old man, and one of his passengers were ejected from the vehicle. The driver died at the scene. The ejected passenger, along with two others inside the van, were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.
Fortunately, the pickup truck’s driver was outside the vehicle at the time of impact and was unharmed. The semi-truck driver also walked away without injury.
In the aftermath, Michigan State Police issued a reminder to all drivers: “Please use seatbelts whenever you are in a motor vehicle.”
Traffic on northbound US-131 was severely backed up—stretching south to Hall Street—as emergency crews worked the scene. All lanes were reopened by 9:20 a.m., according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
While this crash occurred in Michigan, its impact ripples far beyond state lines. Road safety remains a critical issue nationwide—from Grand Rapids to the highways of Wyoming—highlighting the universal importance of seatbelt use and highway awareness.
