WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Man dies in vehicle fire on 68th Street in Cutlerville

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A vehicle fire in Byron Township on Tuesday morning claimed a Kentwood man's life.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office says a Jeep caught fire on 68th Street near Clay Avenue around 8 o'clock. The location was east of U.S.-131, in the Cutlerville area.

Witnesses told police they heard an explosion. That was not immediately confirmed.

"They indicated they heard an explosion sound before going outside and finding the Jeep fully involved in flames," Sgt. Eric Brunner told WOOD Radio.

Deputies and Cutlerville firefighters arrived on the scene to find the vehicle engulfed in flames. They then spotted the 42-year-old man dead inside the Jeep. His name had not been released as of early Tuesday afternoon.

Those two agencies, as well as Michigan State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) are investigating what caused the fire and explosion.

Sgt. Brunner said that is due to the witnesses' report of hearing an explosion and evidence from how the vehicle was damaged at the scene.

Although the incident occurred just east of the train tracks on 68th Street, train service was not impacted as of early afternoon.

Kent County Sheriff's deputies, Michigan State Police, the ATF and Cutlerville firefighters all responded to the scene. Those agencies are assisting the KCSO with the investigation.

"Just to see if we can find any evidence in that vehicle. There's no reason to believe something suspicious or completely malicious occurred in this incident. However, trying to determine if it was some type of mechanical failure or if this was a sure accident that was caused as this vehicle was going down the roadway. So, that's why we're calling in all these investigators to make sure we comb through the details, to figure out what happened leading up to this fire," Brunner said.

If you have information that could help to move the investigation forward, please call the KCSO at 616-632-6125, or call Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 to report information safely and anonymously.

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Firefighters and police respond to a vehicle fire and possible explosion on 68th Street in Cutlerville, near US-131 and the train tracks at Clay Ave. Photo: Photos provided by Kent County Sheriff's Office

Kent Co Sheriff's deputies and Cutlerville firefighters responded to the scene on 68th Street in Byron Township. The ATF and MSP are investigating, as well.Photo: Photos from KCSO


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