MASON COUNTY – At 8:21 p.m. Wednesday, emergency crews were called to a traffic accident that occurred in the median of US-31 near the Ludington Rest Area in Mason County’s Summit Township.

Upon arrival, Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies found two heavily damaged vehicles in the median and a third vehicle parked on the west shoulder of southbound US-31. Deputies said two injured pedestrians were found in the median after crashing while outside their vehicles.

One of those pedestrians, a 35-year-old Pentwater woman, was later pronounced dead at Corewell Hospital in Ludington.

Deputies said preliminary findings from crash reconstruction experts at MCSO indicate that a silver Pontiac G6 was traveling southbound on US-31 when it lost control, spun and reached the median. Deputies said a second vehicle approached the scene, pulled onto the southbound shoulder of the highway, and two occupants of that vehicle got out to check on the occupants of the Pontiac. Deputies said a third vehicle, a 2021 GMC pickup driven by a 37-year-old Shelby man, also approached the scene, traveling southbound on US-31.

Deputies said the pickup truck driver also lost control and went into the median, hitting two good Samaritans and then the Pontiac.

Authorities said the road was reported to be wet due to scattered slippery areas.

Two passengers of the Pontiac, the second pedestrian and the pickup driver were injured and taken to Corewell Hospital.

The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office.

Michigan State Police, Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Prime Fire and Ludington Jaws assisted at the scene.