IONIA TOWNSHIP, MI — Two people are dead and three are injured after police say an SUV crashed into a group of bikers participating in a Make-A-Wish event on Saturday, July 30.
WXMI Fox 17 reports that the Ionia County Sheriff’s Office said several bicyclists were hit. One man was pronounced dead at the scene and another was taken to an area hospital where he died of his injuries.
Sheriff’s deputies responded about 11:15 a.m. to Stage Road, north of East Nickleplate Road.
The Ionia County Sheriff’s Office issued a road closure statement shortly after saying:
“Please avoid the area of Stage Rd north of Nickleplate Rd due to a critical incident. The road will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Will update when reopened.”
The road was reopened around 4.30pm on Saturday.
Police say an SUV crossed the center line of Stage Road into oncoming traffic while trying to pass another vehicle.
Three cyclists were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, the driver of the SUV was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated causing death. He was taken to jail after receiving medical attention.
The cyclists were participating in the Wish-A-Mile Bicycle Tour, the largest Make-A-Wish fundraising event in the state of Michigan, which began in 1987 as a 300-mile ride from Canton to in Mackinac.
The names of the driver and the victims are being withheld by police pending the report and notification of next of kin.
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