Family tragedy strikes twice; Man dies after falling in frozen lake, days after wife’s fatal crash

ADDISON TOWNSHIP, MI — A 66-year-old Livonia man died days after he was hospitalized following an ice fishing trip that ended with him and his 15-year-old grandson being pulled from the icy waters of Lake George, Oakland County sheriff’s officials reported.

Compounding the tragedy for the family, the grandfather’s death was reported less than one week after his 66-year-old wife died in a 2-vehicle crash Friday, Dec. 27.

Sheriff’s officials have not released the names of the couple.

The 66-year-old grandfather on Thursday, Dec. 26, was drilling a hole in the Addison Township-based lake to go ice fishing with his grandson when the ice broke, causing the 66-year-old to fall into the water, Oakland County sheriff’s officials reported last week. His grandson called 911 before trying to help the man out of the water. More ice gave way, causing the teen to fall in too.

A bystander saw them fall in and rushed to the area with a kayak, sheriff’s officials reported. The bystander helped the teen out of the water first before firefighters arrived on scene and pulled the grandfather from the ice.

The grandfather was taken to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition for days. Oakland County sheriff’s officials on Tuesday, Dec. 31, reported he died.

Five days earlier — and 24 hours after the grandfather fell into the ice — his 66-year-old wife was traveling with two other people to retrieve her husband’s vehicle when they were hit head-on by a vehicle operated by a 19-year-old Oakland Township man, sheriff’s officials reported earlier this week.

The 66-year-old Livonia woman was riding in the backseat of a northbound Jeep Grand Cherokee when the teen crossed the centerline of Rochester Road and hit the Jeep, sheriff’s officials said.

The two other individuals in the Jeep, both 62, were hospitalized in the crash. The 19-year-old was also hospitalized and was listed in stable condition, sheriff’s officials reported.