W. Mich. Haiti crash victims identified

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The names of four people who were killed in a crash in Haiti were released Friday night.

The West Michigan residents were part of a group that just arrived in Haiti earlier in the day. They traveled to Haiti on a medical mission arranged through a parish and were in a car accident shortly after arriving in the country.

The victims of the crash have been identified as Matt Kutsche, Mary LaPonsie, Jim Cwengros and his wife Rita Cwengros.

LaPonsie spoke with 24 Hour News 8 in January 2010 after an earthquake in the country killed more than 65,000 people. She was part of the clinic that offered medical services to thousands of people in the area.

"It's like your absolute worst nightmare to have something like this happen and my heart is absolutely bleeding for the people that went; it's unbelievable," Kim Sorreellee said.

Laponsie, the Cwengroses and Kutsche were on their way to serve when their vehicle crashed and fell off a mountain.

Father John Vallier from the Holly Spirit Parish in Grand Rapids said the group of 18 had just arrived in Haiti before the crash. They were traveling to the region known as Seguin for a mission to help their parish in the area, and provide dental and other health care to the Haitians.

Laponsie, the Cwengroses, Kutsche, and the driver were the only people in the vehicle that crashed. The driver survived. The rest of the mission group was safe, including Matt's father who was on the trip providing his services as a doctor.

An investigation continues into the cause of the crash.

The parish is now working to to bring the remaining 14 workers back to West Michigan. A spokesperson for Amway told 24 Hour News 8 a corporate plane from Amway was cleared to go to Haiti to pick up the remaining members of the group in Haiti and bring them back to West Michigan.

There was a prayer service Saturday night at the Holy Spirit Parish to pray for the family, friends and others doing work in Haiti.