Local News

1 dead after vehicle strikes tree in West Michigan, deputies say

By Paula Wethington

January 22, 2026 / 6:39 AM EST / CBS Detroit

Dangerous cold temps move in by Friday morning with a possible winter storm arriving by Sunday

A West Michigan man died as a result of a traffic crash Wednesday in Kent County, local deputies reported.

The crash happened about 3:30 p.m. on Lincoln Lake Avenue NE, just north of McPherson Street NE, in Vergennes Township.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office said the driver, a 79-year-old Grattan Township man, lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lincoln Lake Avenue in that area was closed during the accident investigation and cleanup.

The crash remains under investigation by the Kent County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit.

Paula Wethington

Paula Wethington is a digital producer at CBS Detroit. She previously held digital content roles at NEWSnet, Gannett/USA Today network and The Monroe News in Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina.