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Pedestrian Hit and Run Accident near White Cloud

Be on the lookout for anybody with a recent dent on their vehicle and may have been driving in the White Cloud area. Yesterday, the hit and run driver who hit Scott Dumas received up to five years on the hit and run and related charges, whoever killed the person in the article below deserves at least that:

The Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a Hit and Run motor vehicle accident which has left one person dead. Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the area of 11 Mile Road and 16th Street in Woodland Park, Merrill Twp., Newaygo County, around 7:18am for a male laying partially in the roadway. Investigation into incident indicates Steven Jones (61) of Woodland Park was walking eastbound on 11 Mile Road when we was struck by a motor vehicle. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. Vehicle involved with this accident left the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for assistance from anyone who might have information pertaining to this incident.

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Permalink Reply by XLFD on September 24, 2014 at 9:04pm

This story has gotten a bit more interesting. The victim in this incident is the same Steven Jones that was themselves a suspected drunk driver who ran over a bicyclist from behind in a July incident described here on July 10, 2014:

ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Kent County Sheriff’s deputies released the name of the bicyclist hit and killed by an alleged drunk driver Wednesday in Ada Township.

Fifty-two-year-old Jeff Dykehouse, Grand Rapids, was struck just before 7 pm between Three Mile Road and Four Mile Road in the 3200 block of Egypt Valley Ave. NE.

We’re told Dykehouse was riding his bike on Egypt Valley when 61-year-old Steven Jones, Bitely, Mich., who was driving a Mercury Mountaineer, hit him from behind. The victim was killed as a result of the crash.

Deputies say the driver the of the Mountaineer was arrested for operating under the influence.

According to Dykehouse’s Facebook page, he was a father, an avid bicyclist and photographer.

The suspect in the case is not expected to be arraigned today because investigators are waiting for blood alcohol test results to be returned.

Fox 17 updated today:

In July, Jones was a suspect in a deadly accident involving a bicyclist in Ada Township. 52-year-old Jeff Dykehouse, an avid biker and well-known photographer in the community, was killed in the crash and Jones was accused of driving while under the influence.

At the time of his death, Jones had not yet been charged in the incident.

Jones’ daughter Quran Griffin wouldn’t comment when asked about the incident, only calling the situation ironic.

“It is in the hands of the law and what will come out from that will come out from that,” Griffin said.

“What I do want to say is that unfortunately my father was hit today and this person took off, so there’s someone driving around right now that I don’t know what they’re feeling but we’re on this end of it and this hurts.”

Griffin says she and her family are well-known in the small community, only serving to emphasize the loss being felt.

“When I heard about it it touched me because another soul gone and it touched me pretty good, pretty good,” said Samuel Dinkins, who lives nearby.

Despite the loss, Griffin says the family is remaining strong, knowing she was at peace with her father before he died.

“You see us standing here, we’re strong, we’re tall, and we are standing in the glory,” she said. “My dad had this phrase ‘the conquering son’ and look we haven’t had sun all summer long and look what we got today, so we are standing in his presence.”

The area where Jones’ body was found has no sidewalk or shoulder area. Police say the time of the day and the fact it might’ve been dark outside could have been a factor in the accident.

There may be more than irony at work here. I count over 70 days elapsing between when Jones killed Dykehouse and no charges being filed even though he most definitely violated the bicyclist's right of way in killing him even if the results of any test come back negative.

Can you imagine the friends and family of Dykehouse having to deal with this lack of justice, so long after the test results coming back and with Jones getting off scot-free?

Don't be surprised if this turns out to be a revenge killing. If it does, you should mainly hold the justice system of Kent County (where the original accident happened) accountable for not holding Steven Jones accountable for that crime.

Besides, if Jones was doing some time, he would have never been hit.

Permalink Reply by XLFD on September 25, 2014 at 5:12pm

An arrest has been made in connection with this accident:

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — A 36-year-old man from Brohman has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run crash in Newaygo County, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

Steven Jones, 61, was killed Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle while walking on 11 Mile Road near 16th Street in Merrill Township.

Deputies say a tip led them to the hit and run suspect’s vehicle. He will be identified pending formal charges.