Man who died in fiery crash identified.

Man who died in fiery crash identified.

#OceanaCountyNews

GRANT TOWNSHIP — The man who died Sunday morning, Aug. 4, in a truck fire on South Water Road west of West Clay Road has been identified as Andrew Dean Blankenship, 35, of Montague.

Blankenship was the lone occupant of the 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup truck that hit a large spruce tree and caught fire, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

The truck was northbound on South Water Road and had gone off the road, partially recovered, then went off the road again and hit the tree. The truck ignited on fire, and Blankenship was unable to escape, said Sheriff Mast.

A citizen “made a very courageous effort” to rescue the Blankenship, but was unable to because of the fire, he said.

“His identity was confirmed by a surgical plate that he had from a previous bone break.”

Emergency units responding included Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, Grant Township Fire and Rescue and Life EMS.

“Speed was very likely a factor in this crash,” said Mast. “We are still investigating if drugs and alcohol may have played a part in the crash as well.”

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