A Wayland man was killed Sunday, Aug. 13, after police said he caused a crash by driving north in the southbound lanes of US-131, injuring a Plainwell man.
Police said Sean Michael Barone, 29, was killed in the crash, which happened before 11:43 p.m., and that alcohol use was a likely factor.
According to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, troopers were called to a report of a vehicle parked pointing the wrong way in the southbound lanes of US-131 north of the Shelbyville exit with no lights.
While officers were enroute to that call, they received more calls reporting a crash and vehicle fire.
When the deputies got to the scene, they found a vehicle on fire with the driver, Alexander Madison Wieland, 22, of Plainwell, trapped inside and used fire extinguishers to suppress the fire and pull Wieland from the burning vehicle. Wayland fire fighters then arrived and put out the fire.
Investigation showed police that Barone had been driving north on the southbound part of the freeway, several drivers swerved to avoid him, but Wieland’s vehicle was struck head on, causing severe damage and starting the fire in the engine compartment.
Barone was taken to Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids where he died from his injuries, police said, while Wieland was taken to Spectrum Health’s Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids and treated for a severe leg injury and concussion-like symptoms.
Both men were wearing seatbelts.
The emergency responders closed the expressway from about 11:43 p.m. to 2:15 a.m.
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