Driver dies following US 31 bypass crash

Driver dies following US 31 bypass crash

AMBER TOWNSHIP — The driver of a pickup truck that was involved in a two-vehicle crash on the US 31 bypass near Scottville Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, has died, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

“The driver of the northbound 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT pickup that lost control and crossed into the path of a southbound truck has been identified as Brian Jay Elzinga, 63 of Grand Rapids,” said Sheriff Cole. “Sadly, at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2023, the Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office notified the Mason County Sheriff’s Office that Mr. Elzinga had passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

“The driver of the Allied Waste Systems truck has been identified as Joseph Allen Richards, 42 of Manistee. He was uninjured in the crash, which remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office.”

Emergency crews were called to the scene, north of US 10, at 7:22 a.m. Tuesday. The crash occurred after Elzinga’s pickup truck, traveling northbound on US 31, lost control on slippery roads; spun out; and went into the path of the southbound Allied Waste Systems truck. The garbage truck hit the pickup truck in the passenger side door causing major damage to both vehicles and critical injuries to Elzinga.

Elzinga was transported by Life EMS ambulance to Corewell Health Ludington Hospital.

Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Scottville Fire Department, Custer Fire Department, and Life EMS responded to the scene.

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