1 dead in wreck on US-131 near D Avenue

PLAINWELL, Mich. (WOOD) - One person died in a three-vehicle crash along US-131 north of D Avenue that closed the northbound lanes for more than four hours Monday.

Authorities confirmed Tuesday that Sandra Norland, 68, was killed in the wreck.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. Monday as traffic slowed due to a construction lane closure, the Allegan County Sheriff's Department said in a release Tuesday.

A Dodge Caravan driven by an 86-year-old Kalamazoo man struck the rear of a Smart Car driven by Jerome Norland, 73, of Kalamazoo, according to the Sheriff's Department. Sandra Norland was the passenger in that Smart Car.

Jerome Norland, along with both the driver and passenger of the Caravan, also sustained injuries and were taken to Kalamazoo hospitals.

After the Smart Car was struck from the rear, it struck a commercial vehicle. That vehicle sustained only minor damage and its driver was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by Allegan County Sheriff's Department Crash Reconstructionists.

The Plainwell Department of Public Safety, area Fire and Rescue and Michigan State Police also responded to the scene.

Northbound US-131 was shut down between 4 p.m. and about 8:30 p.m., and authorities urged motorists to avoid the area.