Grand Rapids woman killed while walking on US 31

Grand Rapids woman killed while walking on US 31

FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP — A 45-year-old Grand Rapids woman died after being struck by a vehicle on US 31 Friday morning. According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, a preliminary investigation suggests the woman exited a vehicle north of the crash scene and started walking southbound down the northbound shoulder of the highway, near Freeman Road. The male driver of that vehicle pulled onto US 31, headed south, crossed the centerline and struck the victim. 

The driver of the vehicle was arrested at the scene for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death and driving on a revoked driver’s license causing death. Cole said the identities of both the victim and suspect are not being released at this time. 

“The Mason County Crash Reconstruction Team and Mason County Detective Bureau continue to investigate,” Cole said.

Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in this matter.  Anyone who may have witnessed this event, or had been traveling in the area of US 31 and Freeman Road around the time of call, is asked the call Det. Steve Hansen with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office at 231-843-3475, extension 128 or the Mason-Oceana 911’s non-emergency number at 800-364-7332.   

Emergency crews assisting at the scene included Free Soil/Meade Fire Department, Grant Fire Department, Fountain Area Fire Department and Life EMS ambulance.

More information will be released when it becomes available.

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