PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WZZM) - A drive to work turned deadly Monday morning for a school teacher headed to class. Aaron Haynes was a first grade teacher in Greenville. He died in the crash on the East Beltline, just north of 5 Mile Road. A wrong way driver, heading south in the northbound lane, slammed into Haynes' truck.
According to Michigan State Police, Aaron Haynes may not have seen the pick up truck coming toward him because there's no sign that either vehicle tried to brake. Investigators do think alcohol was involved on the part of the wrong way driver.
It was still dark shortly after 7:00 a.m. as the 30-year old Haynes drove his blue Chevy pick up to work.
Michigan State Police say as Haynes came over a hill on the East Beltline, north of 5 Mile, he collided with a wrong-way driver headed south and was killed.
The other vehicle, a maroon Ford truck, was going the wrong way in the northbound lanes. First Lt. Chris McIntire of Michigan State Police says, "There's no indication right now of any braking at the scene. So we don't know really what happened."
State Police do think alcohol was involved in the crash. McIntire says there were open alcohol containers found in the wrong way driver's vehicle.
State Police initially reported the southbound vehicle did not have it's headlights on. But now they say they're not sure. McIntire explains, "As of right now, I don't know if there were headlights on or not headlights on. When you have a head on accident like that, it's devastating the amount of damage that's done. It's really difficult to know if they were on or off right now."
State Police are not releasing the name of the other driver. They found a Washington state identification card of a 38 year old man in the truck. But investigators are still trying to confirm who the driver is, and if he had a driver's license.
Aaron Haynes taught first grade at Lincoln Heights Elementary School in Greenville. Greenville Superintendent Peter Haines issued a statement saying, "Mr. Haynes has been a remarkably positive influence on so many young lives. He combined a passion for his craft with compassion for the children he has served."
Michigan State Police say the Ford pick up driver is hospitalized in stable condition.
State Police initially reported the surviving driver was a 33 year old from Wyoming. But it turns out that person is the owner of the truck, and police don't know exactly what the relationship is between the two.
In your voice
