Church van crashes into tavern in 2-vehicle collision.

Church van crashes into tavern in 2-vehicle collision.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

ROTHBURY — A First Baptist Church of Hart van crashed into the Rothbury Tavern following a two-vehicle collision Monday, Dec. 13, around 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of Oceana Drive and Winston Road.

The driver of the van was transported to an area hospital by his wife, said Pastor Ryan Vander Zwaag who was at the scene. There were no passengers in the van.

The driver of the Ford F 150 extended cab pickup truck involved in the crash was not injured, said Michigan State Police Trooper Justin Vander Vlucht.

The 2009 Ford van driver is a 36-year-old Hart man, said Trooper Vander Vlucht. The youth pastor had just left the Rothbury Community Church on Winston Road, said Pastor Vander Zwaag. 

The driver of the pickup truck is a 61-year-old Ferry man, who was traveling north on Oceana Drive, said the trooper. The van was westbound on Winston Road.

Rothbury Tavern owner Mark Nelson said there have been several crashes at the busy intersection over the years. Although, few have occurred in the parking lot. There was minimal exterior damage to his building in Monday’s crash. He was not inside the tavern at the time it occured, but noticed some items were knocked off the shelves from the impact. No one was inside the tavern as it was not open yet for the business day.

“This old building has dodged a few wrecks in the last couple years and it’s still standing,” Nelson said. “This was built in 1933 — it’s an old girl.”

Assisting at the scene were Grant Township Fire and Rescue and Life EMS.

The crash remains under investigation.

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