Portland teacher killed in I-96 crash

PORTLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - A Portland High School teacher was killed and two other people were hospitalized after a crash that shut down a portion of I-96 in Ionia County early Saturday morning.

Sheriff's deputies say a pickup truck driven by a 57-year-old Portland man was eastbound on I-96 near Kent Street in Portland when it struck a guardrail and rolled over, landing on its roof in one of the travel lanes.

Another eastbound vehicle driven by a 55-year-old Grand Rapids man struck the pickup truck.

The driver of the truck died at the scene.

A passenger in the other vehicle, identified as a 56-year-old Grand Rapids woman, was taken to a Lansing hospital in critical condition. The driver of the second vehicle was also hospitalized in stable condition.

Deputies are still trying to determine what caused the crash. They do know the victims were all wearing their seat belts.

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Charles Dumas told 24 Hour News 8 Sunday evening the driver of the truck was Brad Foltz, a technology and speech and communication teacher at Portland High School.

Dumas said Foltz was a wonderful teacher and a positive influence on the students, and that he will be missed.

Foltz had been with the district for 10 years, Dumas said, first as a teacher's aide, then as a librarian, and then he returned to school to get a teaching degree. He also served as the videographer for the football team and did announcements for the band. Dumas described Foltz as a big supporter of athletics.

Foltz leaves behind two adult sons and two grandchildren, as well as his wife who is a special education teacher at Portland High School. 

Funeral services are set for Wednesday at St. Patrick's Church in Portland, Dumas said. The high school will be dismissed at 10 a.m. so students can attend the service.