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I think this is genviber VastOrangutanhttp://www.mlive.com/news/gran....htmlQuote »Sparta family wonders why teen died on stretch of U.S. 23 SaturdayPublished: Sunday, January 16, 2011, 3:22 PM Updated: Sunday, January 16, 2011, 9:08 PMGarret Ellison | The Grand Rapids Press By Garret Ellison | The Grand Rapids PressAaron John HendrickSPARTA — Family members of Aaron John Hendrick are searching for answers and mourning the loss of their loved one after the Sparta High School graduate was killed while walking along U.S. 23 in the fog north of Brighton early Saturday morning.“We enjoyed him for 18 years and we’re so grateful for those years,” said Hendrick’s mother, Lois Greenlund of Sparta, her voice cracking with emotion. “He was the light of our life.”The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department said Hendrick, 18, was walking north on a foggy stretch of U.S. 23, the main route between Ann Arbor and Flint, where Hendrick studied at Kettering University, when he was struck by two separate vehicles about 5:25 a.m.His car, a 2003 Pontiac Vibe with all-wheel drive that gave his mother a measure of comfort, had crashed into the U.S. 23 southbound shoulder, police said.The accident happened south of Highland Road in Hartland Township and National Weather Service data shows temperatures were in the teens with more than an inch of snowfall at the time.Hendrick apparently left the car and was walking north against traffic when he was struck by a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Larry Kotowicz, 51, of Grand Blanc.He was then struck by a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Michael Powell, 29, of Grand Blanc. Ambulance personnel pronounced Hendrick dead at the scene.“We don’t know why he wouldn’t just stay in his car and call 911, whether he had an injury and he was disoriented,” said Greenlund. Livingston County deputies were unavailable for comment Sunday, issuing details via press release.A portion of U.S. 23 around the crash was closed for approximately four hours while deputies reconstructed the accident, which remains under investigation.Hendrick was a Sparta honors student who graduated in 2010 with a 4.2 grade point average, said Greenlund. He was accepted to Kettering on a scholarship and was studying electrical engineering.Through a university co-op program, Hendrick landed a position at General Motors doing paid on-the-job training designing robotic camera cars.Hendrick developed a love for fishing, hunting and dirtbike riding, which he shared with his older brother. He had aspirations of working in the national space program and attempted enlistment in the Air Force but was kept out because he was colorblind.“He always wanted to fly,” she said. “He had a great brain.”A redhead, Hendrick was affectionately referred to as "Orange Crush" and "Ginger Ale" by family members, Greenlund said.Hendrick is survived by parents Greenlund and Scott Hendrick; sisters Seari and Shani Hendrick, Sharla Jannenga and Alicia Force; and brothers Scott and Kurt Hendrickson.A visitation will take place Monday, Jan. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 1601 Post Dr. NE. A funeral service takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. Additional visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Obituary

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(removed)! I think you're right, Joat. That's Horrible. Much too young to pass on. Very Sad. My prayers go out to his family. RIP, Aaron!

So sad! It scares me whenever my children are driving. God Bless you young man! Lord bring peace to his family.

Thread stickied... I was saddened when I read this the other day and now even more sad to realize it was not only a local, but a member.

RIPparents should never have to bury their children.

RIP

Condolences to the family RIP Aaron

Struck down while so young... Tragic.RIP. All condolences to his family.

Our prayers and condolences to the family & friends.

Very sad... RIP. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Horribly tragic! I hope the parents and family can find peace. No parent should ever have to suffer this. I don't know what I would do if it was my boy.

that is awful to hear.. RIP.I can't help but wonder if he wasn't hurt or dazed after the accident. Why else would you wander away in the snow instead of calling 911 or waiting for another passing vehicle? And then to be walking in the road itself, instead of way off on the shoulder.. poor kid. Waaaay too young

This is really sad - he sounds like a great person, and is in my thoughts.

Quote, originally posted by bodhi_tree777 »I can't help but wonder...Seems to happen around here a few times a year. Remote roads, poor weather conditions, dazed from an accident and disoriented due to the weather... it's hard to say for sure but it's certainly a shame. Nobody should ever have to suffer such a fate and no family should have to learn their loved one was the one who did. I wish life could work that way!

that's a dam shame. seems like a good kid.

I will more than likely be making a donation to the family within the next week, may not be much, but every little bit helps Donations can be made on the obituary link provided by joatmon.

He will definitely be missed. The college he was attending, Kettering University up in Flint, is the old General Motors Institute (outstanding school) and where my son Corey will likely be attending. I listen to mostly Detroit radio stations in my work service van (No XM radio ) and I remember hearing of this accident but had no clue of the connection until this was posted. Thanks for sharing with us fellow Genvibers

RIP

That's just weird, a freak. I have lived through many deaths of people I knew personally or as acquaintances, people that have died in automotive related accidents. Some weird, some just plain stupid.I never knew or "spoke to" this member but this is truly sad. I'm sure he didn't even know who he was yet at that age.When I was his age and not sure about myself or what I wanted to do in this world, I used to like to go walking VERY late at night to think and to reflect, often on dimly lit streets (you could still do that back then w/o too much fear.) I guess I should be happy I did not fall prey to the same fate.

Way too young to go. RIP

Wow that is so sad R.I.P

Between my wife and my 6 month old son, stories like this tear me up every time now. Can't imagine the grief the parents feel. Just read a couple other stories like this from the Detroit area and now see this on here.RIP to those who have passed, and prayers for those who remain.

I'm a new member, and this was in Jan 20011, but I have to say, this is really sad. No one should ever lose their life at the hands of someone else.