Driver in state park fatal crash identified. 

Driver in state park fatal crash identified. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man who died in a single vehicle crash Friday evening at the Ludington State Park. Richard John VandenHeuvel, 61, of Ludington was pronounced dead following the crash on M-116. 

According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, emergency crews were called to the state park at 11:10 p.m. Cole said preliminary findings from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Crash Re-Construction Team indicates VandenHeuvel approached the entrance of the Ludington State Park on M-116 at high speed and failed to stop at the contact station.  The vehicle struck the retaining wall, south of the contact station, with the left side of his vehicle.  The vehicle then vaulted and struck a large pine tree to the north of the contact station.  The vehicle then rolled over, coming to rest on its roof at the entrance to the campground. 

VandenHeuvel was the only occupant of the vehicle. 

Emergency units on scene included Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Hamlin Township Fire Department, Ludington Fire Department, and Life EMS. 

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

Sheriff Cole noted that Richard John VandenHeuvel, the victim of the car crash, is not related to Richard “Dick” I. VandenHeuvel, of Pentwater, who passed away on May 4.

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