New Year's partier, 20, dies in crash

CLARENCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 20-year-old died when the car he was driving left the road, hit a tree and rolled over on 29 1/2 Mile Road early on New Year's Day.

Jared Thomas Zenz was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his car. He was the only person in the car.

The Grass Lake man, who was staying with relatives in the Duck Lake area, stopped at a New Year's Eve party shortly before the crash, Calhoun County deputies said in a release. But the party-givers refused to give him anything to drink and offered to drive him home.

Zenz refused and began to leave. When guests tried to stop him a brief scuffle happened, but he left. The crash happened a short distance later.

Investigators believe he'd been at a party earlier and are trying to determine where and when. Alcohol, speed and not wearing a seat belt are all believed to be factors in this crash.

If you have any information, contact the Calhoun County Detective Bureau at 269.781.0963 or Silent Observer at 269.781.9700.