Driver killed in US 31 crash identified

Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The 23-year-old Norton Shores man who died in a fiery single-vehicle crash on northbound US 31 at the Hayes Road overpass Thursday morning, Sept. 24, has been identified as Ethan Vanderberg.

The 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup truck Vanderberg was driving on northbound US 31 left the roadway; went into the median; and struck the overpass’s concrete support pillar head-on, said Oceana County Undersheriff Schiller. Vanderberg was pronounced dead at the scene.

“At approximately 9:19 a.m. on Thursday Sept. 24, 2026, Mason-Oceana 911 received a report of a vehicle crash on US 31 in Shelby Township,” states a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.

“When emergency responders arrived, they discovered a single 2015 Chevy Silverado had crashed into the Hayes Road overpass concrete support pillar and the vehicle was on fire. A witness to the accident told Michigan State Police troopers that they believed the person was still in the vehicle.

“The pickup truck had severe damage done to it as a result of the crash. The vehicle was traveling northbound on the expressway when it left the roadway to the west, into the median, striking the concrete pillar head-on. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The vehicle was driven by Ethan Vanderberg, a 23-year-old Norton Shores man. The cause of the crash is still under investigation at this time. Northbound US 31 along with the Hayes Road overpass were closed until Michigan Department of Transportation engineers could assess any damage as a result of the crash. US 31 was reopened at 1:26 p.m.

“Assisting at the scene were the Shelby Police Department, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police Hart Post, Mason County Sheriff’s Office accident investigators, Life EMS, Shelby-Benona, Grant Township, and Ferry Township fire departments and the Oceana County Victim Services Unit.

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