Lansing, Mich. — A deadly crash over the weekend left one man dead and another hospitalized after their vehicle plunged into the Grand River early Sunday morning. Authorities believe alcohol may have played a role in the incident.
At approximately 2:22 a.m. Sunday, Eaton County Central Dispatch received an iPhone crash notification and an alert from the BMW Response Center, indicating a vehicle crash near the end of Jolly Road. Coordinates provided by the alert placed the car in the middle of the Grand River.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a heavily damaged guardrail and observed the taillights of the submerged vehicle, located about 200 feet from the shoreline.
Michigan State Police quickly responded, launching a canoe to search for potential occupants of the car. As they approached the sinking vehicle, deputies spotted a man struggling in the water and successfully pulled him to safety. The man was transported to Sparrow Hospital by Delta Township ambulance for medical treatment.
Authorities, believing a second individual may still be trapped in the submerged vehicle, initiated an extensive search operation. The Tri-County Dive Team was deployed, along with drones equipped with thermal imaging. Lansing and Delta Township fire departments dispatched rescue boats, and officers from multiple jurisdictions combed the riverbanks.
Around 8:30 a.m., the dive team recovered the body of a 39-year-old man approximately a short distance downstream, submerged in roughly 10 feet of water.
The Eaton County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released further details, as the investigation remains ongoing. However, authorities have suggested that alcohol could be a factor in the crash.
The tragic incident highlights the dangers of impaired driving and the swift response of local law enforcement and rescue teams in the face of such a harrowing situation.
