OTSEGO, Mich (April 16, 2014) – A 21-year-old from Plainwell killed in a crash involving a wrong-way driver along U.S. 131 is being remembered for his ‘smile and personality that could light up a room’.
Jaryd Ford was traveling along southbound U.S. 131 near D Avenue Tuesday evening just before midnight when the Ford Mustang he was driving was hit head-on by a pick-up truck traveling the wrong way on the highway.
Both Ford and the driver of the pick-up, 29-year-old Jeremy Smeltzer of Portage, were killed in the crash. Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. Smeltzer was airlifted to Borgess Hospital but died a short time later.
A passenger in Ford’s vehicle, 26-year-old Megan Covey of Wayland, was also taken to Borgess Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Jaryd Ford was a 2011 graduate of Martin High School where he played football and was on the wrestling team. He was also an avid hunter who enjoyed the outdoors and spending time on the lake. He was working at Mall City Mechanical and was working to become a plumber. Jaryd also had a passion for fast vehicles, especially his Ford Mustang and Ninja motorcycle, and had a smile and personality that could light up a room according to his obituary posted Wednesday evening.
Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego on April 18, and from noon until the funeral service on Saturday at 2 p.m.
