Separate crashes kill two children, ages 7, 8

A 7-year-old Middleton girl and an 8-year-old Edmore-area boy were killed in separate accidents Friday and Monday in mid-michigan.

On Friday, the 7-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle and killed Friday night while crossing M-57 on foot.

According to a news release from Gratiot County Undersheriff Steve Sopocy, Valerie Bruce was hit by a car driven eastbound by Alvin Vandegriff, 48, of St. Johns about 9 p.m. near the intersection of Ely Highway in Fulton Township.

She was transported to Sparrow Hospital in Carson City where she was pronounced dead, Sopocy said.

Her 4-year-old sister was with her at the time but was not injured, he added.

Both M-57 and Ely Highway were closed to traffic for several hours while the incident was investigated.

“The initial investigation shows that the vehicle was traveling at or near the posted speed limit,” Sopocy said. “Drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the crash. There are no pending charges (against the driver) at this time.”

Vandegriff was not injured and the incident remains under investigation, he added.

Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by MMR, Perrinton Fire and Rescue and a Michigan State Police accident reconstruction team.

On Monday, an 8-yearold boy was killed while riding an off-road vehicle near Edmore.

Troopers were sent to the scene at a residence in the 11000 block of Deja Road, northeast of Edmore in Montcalm County’s Home Township, at about 1:15 p.m., state police from the Lakeview Post said in a press release.

“Preliminary investigation revealed the ORV was being operated by an 8-year-old male driver on private property when the ORV overturned,” they said. “The male driver suffered fatal injuries as a result of this crash.”

State police continue to investigate.

Troopers were assisted by Montcalm County EMS ,HOME Twp. Fire Department and Montcalm Central Dispatch.