A Big Rapids man lost his life last week while trying to rescue a dog in Reynolds Township.

According to the Michigan State Police Lakeview Post, the incident occurred on Thursday, October 3, about 9:29 p.m. They said that Morris Zerlaut, 63 was attempting to cross M-46, near Edgar Road, to retrieve a dog that had escaped from a nearby home, when he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by a 27-year-old male. The victim was eventually transported via Aeromed to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Upon arrival at the hospital the victim was pronounced dead.

Police said that seatbelts were worn and alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident.

The Howard City Police Department and members from the Reynolds Township Fire Department, the Montcalm County EMS, and Rescue all assisted at the scene.

An accident in Solon Township Sunday night sent two people to the hospital, one with possible life threatening injuries.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, Chad Wehler, 22, of Howard City, was driving a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix eastbound on 18 Mile about 10 p.m., when he pulled out in front of another car traveling southbound on Algoma.  The other car, a 2001 GMC Yukon, driven by Kylie Burns, 24, of Howard City, struck Wehler’s vehicle in the driver’s side door. Wehler had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported to Butterworth Hospital by AeroMed with possible life threatening injuries. Burns was transported to the hospital by Rockford Ambulance.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.

The Oakfield Township Fire Department was called to a car on fire on Friday, August 2, shortly after noon, near Beardslee Rd NE and Tully Avenue. They found a yellow car in the ditch along Beardslee, and the engine compartment was on fire. The compartment was full of smoke. As they began putting out the fire, a male in the vehicle sat up. He had been sitting in the driver’s seat, but was lying across the passenger seat. He was the only person in the car, and firefighters immediately pulled him out.

AeroMed was called to the scene, but told to disregard before they arrived. The man was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital by Rockford Ambulance with third degree burns to his legs and one arm.

The Kent County Sheriff Department said they think the man fell asleep and crashed into the ditch. They said it’s unknown why the car started on fire.

A rescue unit ran the stop sign at County Line and Kendaville Rd., resulting in the death of two people.

Two drivers have been charged with negligent homicide after the accidents they were involved in resulted in four deaths.
According to the Police Chief Steven DeWitt, of the Howard City Police Department, a two-count warrant for negligent homicide was issued December 1 for Stephanie Bass, 35, of Grandville. She was arrested on December 3.
The arrest stems from an accident on October 4. According to police, Bass was heading southbound, in a Chrysler 300, on W. County Line Road, about 10:55 a.m. Monday, October 4, when she failed to stop at the sign at M-82 and struck an eastbound Ford Ranger. The driver of the Ford Ranger, Mark Spillman, 49, of Comstock Park, and his passenger, Kenneth Sullivan, 55, of Newaygo, both died at the scene. Kenneth`s wife, Shelly Sullivan, 46, of Newaygo was transported to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids with serious injuries.
Bass had non-life-threatening injuries.
A two-count warrant for negligent homicide has also been issued for a driver that was involved in an accident that was related to the first one.
According to police, a Montcalm County Rescue Unit, enroute to the Howard City accident, was traveling north on West County Line Road about 11:13 a.m. October 4, with lights and siren activated, when it broadsided a Chevy Impala traveling east on Kendaville Road. The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office found that the driver of the rescue unit, Richard Wayne Pierce, 70, ran the stop sign at the intersection, which resulted in the deaths of Max Leroy Young, 71, of Lakeview, and his passenger, Shirley Narloch, 61, also of Lakeview. Young was airlifted by AeroMed to the hospital, but later died of his injuries.
Pierce turned himself into authorities on Tuesday afternoon, December 7, and is free on bond.