HOLLAND TWP., MI (WHTC) – A 37-year-old Holland Christian High teacher and coach suffered critical injuries in a Monday morning crash on Holland’s North Side.
According to Ottawa County Sheriff’s Deputies, Kevin Witte was driving his SUV on 120th Avenue when a 44-foot-long pole protruding from a southbound truck swung into his vehicle’s path while attempting to turn left onto Garden Avenue. The pole went through the windshield, striking Witte, and went out through the rear cargo window.
First responders took an unconscious Witte to Spectrum-Butterworth Hospital for treatment. The other driver, 61-year-old Thomas Heeringa of Zeeland, was not hurt. He was hauling the pole on a stake truck owned by an electrical company.
Holland Christian High officials confirmed that Witte is a social studies teacher at the school and coaches the boys’ freshman soccer team. All Monday evening athletic events at the school are cancelled in the aftermath of this incident.
Deputies added that a light and reflector flag was on the end of the pole at the time of the accident, which remains under investigation.
