Local News
Multi-Casualty Crash Involving High School Students on I-96 in Portland Township
PORTLAND, MI (IONIA COUNTY) – A small bus carrying high school students on their way to a college visit in Ohio crashed early Thursday morning on eastbound I-96 near Kent Street, resulting in multiple injuries and a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) declaration by authorities.
Just before 7:00 a.m., Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers responded to reports of a bus crash on I-96.
Upon arrival, troopers discovered that the bus had veered off the road and collided with a guardrail, causing one student to become pinned under the guardrail inside the bus.
The bus was carrying a total of 16 passengers, including eleven high school students, four adult chaperones, and the driver.
Emergency medical personnel treated six individuals on the scene, with four students transported to the hospital for further evaluation:
- Three students sustained minor injuries
- One student suffered serious injuries
Rescue crews worked swiftly to extricate the pinned student, while multiple emergency units assisted in stabilizing the injured passengers.
Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, including possible contributing factors such as road conditions and driver impairment.
Traffic on eastbound I-96 was temporarily impacted as emergency crews worked to clear the scene.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.