ALLEGAN COUNTY (WWJ) - Tragedy struck in West Michigan on the start of the holiday weekend after a 14-year-old boy died in a fiery wreck early Friday morning, authorities said.
The Allegan County Sheriff's Office confirmed the fatal crash, which occurred just after 6 a.m. in Overisel Township, about 15 minutes southeast of Holland on the state's west side.
Deputies responded to the scene after receiving a call of a vehicle fire on 137th Ave., near 44th Street. The caller also told authorities that it appeared that the vehicle had collided into a tree.
When deputies, along with other responding agencies, arrived at the location, they found a Jeep Wrangler completely engulfed in flames. First responders extinguished the fire and found a male driver still trapped inside the vehicle.
The driver, identified as a 14-year-old male from the Zeeland area, was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Based on their preliminary investigation, the sheriff's office said the Wrangler was heading west on 137th Ave. when it left the road and hit a tree head-on.
The Allegan County Crash Reconstruction Team remained on scene for several hours to investigate the incident with assistance from AMR Ambulance, Overisel Fire Department, Hamilton Fire Department and Allegan County Medical Examiner's Office.
Speed does appear to be a factor, deputies said.
Due to the boy's age and efforts to notify his family, the sheriff's office will not be releasing the driver's identity.
No other details were released.