COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s investigators are trying to figure out why Bonnie Mellema of Augusta pulled into the path of an oncoming pickup earlier this week.
It resulted in her death.
They say the 80-year-old was eastbound on Gull Road in her Cadillac just before 3 p.m. Tuesday when she began to turn left onto Gull Run Drive in Comstock Township. That’s when a westbound pickup driven by 61-year-old Dennis Crookston slammed into the front fender on the passenger side of her car, unable to avoid the collision in the split-second before he noticed the car pulling into his lane.
“Mellema was transported to Borgess Medical Center by Pride Care ambulance and later died from her injuries. Crookston had minor injuries and did not seek medical attention,” Lt. Donald Ester said in a press release.
Lt. Ester says they have ruled out speed and alcohol as factors in the crash. They will continue to investigate, but may never find out why Mellema failed to yield to the oncoming vehicle.
