CROCKERY TWP. (WHTC-AM/FM) — Distracted driving caused a two-vehicle crash in Chester Township Tuesday, injuring three people, according to Ottaw County Sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Wildfong.
The crash happened just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Gooding Street and 16th Avenue near Crockery Lake.
“Kyle DeBruine was driving a 2011 Ford F-350 northbound on 16th Avenue. He says he was looking for an address and became distracted by looking at his phone, using the GPS feature,” Wilfong said.
DeBruine told police he didn’t see the stop sign at the intersection or the other truck. He failed to stop, Wilfong said, and crashed into a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado.
Two Cedar Springs residents were in the Silverado: 65-year-old Valerie Gates, at the wheel and her husband, 66-year-old Curtis Gates, in the front passenger seat of her truck.
The Gates were extricated from their vehicle by firefighters. DeBruine, a 30-year-old Grandville resident, was also trapped in his vehicle but freed himself.
All three individuals were taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth in Grand Rapids with what police called non-life-threatening injuries. AeroMed flew Valerie Gates to the hospital and the two others went via ambulance.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s road-patrol deputies were aided at the scene by Conklin Fire Rescue, Marne Fire Rescue, AeroMed, Rockford ambulance and ProMed ambulance.
