GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) - Ottawa County Sheriff's deputies say Sunday's storm is to blame for a deadly accident out of Grand Haven Township.
Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies say 35 year old Brian Scott Michael of Grand Haven Township was driving in the 15000 block of Mercury Drive when a large branch from an oak tree broke off in the high winds and fell onto his car.
Dave Valles, a friend of Michael's says, "He had everything going for him. A good job. A baby on the way. Everybody's just tore up about it."
Several people heard the crash and ran to see if they could help. Laurin Butterworth lives across the street. She says the group immediately pulled the tree limb off the car. "And we saw that there was a child in the back seat, pulled her out as fast as we could and got her away from the scene hoping that she wouldn't get too traumatized."
That girl was Brian's 2-year old daughter Isabella. She was not injured. Neither was Brian's friend Nick Iversen, who was in the passengers seat. "He tried to pull the driver (Brian) out, we all said that might be best, just let him be."
Laurin says it appeared that the tree limb had hit Brian in the head. She says he was un-responsive. "I would think that he didn't suffer much. Which may be a blessing."
Brian died at the scene. He leaves behind a wife and his two year old daughter. His wife is also expecting their second child. She is due in two months.
A memorial fund is set up at Fifth Third Bank. You can make a donation at any branch. Just ask for the Brian Michael memorial fund.
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