HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Two Holland men are dead and three more are hospitalized after a two-vehicle Holland Township crash, according to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike VanDenBosch.
The intersection at 112th Avenue and Riley Street was closed for hours to allow for a crash investigation.
Police, Holland Township Fire Rescue and AMR Ambulance were called to the scene at 2:50 a.m., VanDenBosch said. There, they found Holland resident Alexander DeVriendt, 34, and the driver of a 2011 Suburu Legacy, who was pronounced dead at the scene. They rushed the driver of the other vehicle, Holland resident Ector Juarez 23, to Holland Hospital by ambulance, where he was declared dead.
DeVriendt was alone in his vehicle; Juarez had three passengers, all Holland residents: Aaron Marez, 21, listed in critical condition after being airlifted to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids; Abraham Garcia, 25, in serious but stable condition at Holland Hospital; and Carlos Ramirez, 19; in serious but stable condition at Holland Hospital
Juarez’s 2007 Honda Accord was northbound on 112th Avenue when the crash happened. DeVriendt’s 2011 Suburu Legacy was westbound on Reilly Street, VanDenBosch said, adding that DeVriendt’s side of the intersection had a yellow flashing traffic signal. It appears Juarez had a blinking red light but did not stop and his vehicle struck DeVriendt’s vehicle, according to police. The traffic light at the intersection is new, according to police; it had been a four-way stop prior to this year.
Police are investigating whether alcohol or drug use played a role in the crash. Police were able to determine that DeVriendt had been using his seatbelt but are trying to determine seatbelt use in the Juarez vehicle.
