A fundraiser has been created to help with funeral costs for a Howell woman killed following a car crash early Sunday in Oceola Township.
The GoFundMe for Alyssa VanHook has a $15,000 goal, with more than $9,100 raised as of Monday morning. The 18-year-old VanHook was killed Sunday when the car she was a passenger in was hit at the intersection of East Highland Road (M59) and North Latson Road at approximately 12:45 a.m.
A preliminary investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office indicates that a 2011 Ford Focus traveling south on N. Latson Road failed to stop at the intersection of E. Highland Road. The Ford Focus was struck by a 2007 Cadillac Escalade traveling east on E. Highland Road. The driver of the Ford Focus, an 18-year–old female from Stockbridge, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the U of M Hospital by Livingston County EMS.
VanHook, a passenger in the Focus, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Cadillac Escalade driver, a 20-year-old male Burton resident was transported to Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc by Livingston County EMS with possible injuries.
Both occupants of the Ford Focus were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash while the driver of the Cadillac Escalade was not wearing his seat belt. Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash.
The incident remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Bureau.
VanHook was a Senior at Stockbridge High School and was the creative editor for the student paper. She was also vice president of the senior class and a member of student council. After graduation, Alyssa planned to continue her work in graphic design at college.
Organizers of the GoFundMe say the family was “extremely devastated by Alyssa’s loss and were not prepared for the high cost of a funeral service.”
Details on services have yet to be released.
