SARANAC, Mich. — A 15-year-old from Saranac died in a single-car crash on Friday afternoon in Keene Township, according to the Ionia County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the crash happened in the 10,000 block of Sayles Road.
ICSO said the car was being driven by a 16-year-old girl from Saranac when the car went off the roadway and hit a tree.
Deputies said there were two passengers in the car, a Saranac 15-year-old who died and a 17-year-old who was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries.
Officials didn't share the 16-year-old driver's condition.
The Saranac Community Association identified the 15-year-old as Jazmin James and announced that they would be dedicating all the money raised from the community's annual pancake breakfast on Saturday morning to her family.
"We took the night, and in the morning it was just a unanimous decision that the money needed to go to the family," said Ryan Hesche, the Saranac Community Association president. "It was the right thing to do."
Hesche said the community raised more than $4,300 from the pancake breakfast, which is a part of the community's annual Bridgefest celebration.
"We're a small town, but Saranac is just, we just come together when we need it for anything," said Hesche. "If there's a family in need, we make it happen."
"Just any time we lose someone, it's difficult, but when you lose a student, it just hits harder," Hesche added.
The Saranac Community Association will also be dedicating all tips from the festival's beer tent to help the other two families impacted by the crash with medical expenses and other needs.
Hesche said those interested in financially supporting the families further can send checks to the Saranac Community Association, or donate to a gofundme page for the family of James.
Checks to the Saranac Community Association can be mailed to PO Box 201, Saranac, MI 48881.