UPDATE: Allegan County Sheriff’s Office has updated information on an Aug. 13 crash that caused the death of Sean Michael Barone, 29, from the Wayland area, and sent another man, Alexander Madison Wieland, 22, from the Plainwell area, to the hospital with serious injuries.
The Barone vehicle was initially reported as facing the wrong way on the shoulder of the southbound lanes of U.S 131 Highway. Prior to officers arriving on scene the vehicle was traveling the wrong way and several vehicles had to swerve to avoid the hitting it.
Wieland was unable to avoid the Barone vehicle and struck it head on, causing severe damage which led to a fire in the engine compartment, the update said.
The fire was held at bay by responding officers using fire extinguishers until Wayland Fire Department arrived and extinguished it completely. Wieland was transported to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital with a severe leg injury and concussion-like symptoms. Barone was transported to Metro Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and alcohol is believed to be a factor in regard to Barone, the update said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Gun Lake Tribal and Wayland police departments responded Sunday to U.S.131 on a report of a head-on crash, a vehicle on fire and a vehicle with no lights on, according to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers found a vehicle on fire with a person still trapped inside. Using fire extinguishers, officers were able to suppress the fire so other officers could extricate the 22 year old plainwell occupant, who was transported to Spectrum Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of a second vehicle a 29 year old wayland man died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Through witness statements and evidence on scene, it is believed that the deceased driver was travelling northbound in the southbound lanes of the expressway north of the Shelbyville exit when it struck the victim’s vehicle causing it to catch fire.
Victims names will be released after notification of family.
