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Tragic Pond Crash Kills Grandpa and Granddaughter
23 Jan
Summary
- A five-year-old girl and her grandfather died after their vehicle crashed.
- The side-by-side buggy plunged through the ice of a privately owned pond.
- A GoFundMe has been established to support the grieving family.
A tragic accident in Westphalia Township, Michigan, resulted in the deaths of five-year-old Ronnie and her grandfather, 50-year-old Eric Miles. Their utility task vehicle (UTV) crashed through the ice of a privately owned pond on Clintonia Road. Emergency services responded to reports of the two individuals being trapped in the water.
Despite being pulled from the frigid pond and transported to a nearby hospital, both Ronnie and Eric Miles were pronounced deceased. The pair were residents of the Portland area. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the UTV incident are ongoing, with authorities noting that side-by-sides require significant ice thickness for safe passage.
The loss has deeply affected Ronnie's parents, Grace and Mason Daugherty, who also lost their daughter. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist the family financially as they navigate memorial costs and cope with the loss of their daughter and father. The fundraiser has already garnered significant community support.
