Teens who died in crash leave behind a baby daughter

Nick Smith and Casey O’Brien.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Two Scottville area teens — a mother and father of a 5-month-old girl — died Thursday afternoon after a two vehicle crash on South Pere Marquette Highway.

Casey O’Brien, 19, and Nick Smith, 18, died as a result of injuries sustained when the vehicle they were in collided with a semi truck. The passenger, MacKenzie Smith — Nick’s younger sister — is in critical condition at DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

The crash occurred at noon. O’Brien was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier and attempted a U-turn, in doing so, turned into path of a southbound semi-truck/trailer, owned by CIS Snow Plowing and Excavating of Ludington.

Casey was pronounced dead at the scene. Nick died at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.  MacKenzie was riding in the back seat. She was flown to DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids by Aero Med air ambulance.

While on the scene, Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole described MacKenzie’s condition as critical.

Casey graduated this year from Mason County Central High School. Nick would have been a senior at MCC this coming school year. They had a 5-month-old daughter, Grace Ann.

Pere Marquette Township Fire Dept., Ludington Fire Dept., Life EMS and Michigan State Police Motor Carrier, along with Mason County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene.  Mason County Sheriff’s Office Victim’s Services Unit is assisting deputies in notifications.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Crash Re-Construction Team.