Pastor killed in wrong-way crash driving to Palm Sunday service, Michigan officials say
A pastor traveling for a Palm Sunday church service was struck and killed by a wrong-way driver, Michigan police say.
Alcohol is believed to have been a factor when a 30-year-old driver was traveling the wrong way on a Grand Rapids road Sunday, April 2, according to Michigan State Police. The driver collided head-on with a separate vehicle operated by a 63-year-old man, police said.
The 63-year-old was later identified as Dean Elliott, who WOOD-TV said was traveling to preach at a church without a pastor in Manistee, about 120 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. State police said Elliott died at the scene.
Police said the 30-year-old was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Charges have not been announced.
Elliott led a ministry called Abounding Hope and was the former pastor of Fennville Assembly of God Church.
The church said Elliott was married and had two children.
A “missionary evangelist,” Elliott often visited foreign countries for missionary work and to train pastors, MLive.com reported. Most of his time in other countries was spent in India, Pastor Joe Coffman told WOOD-TV.
“Dean was passionate for the lost and a champion of people,” Faith Church in Leslie said in a Facebook post. “Pray for his wife Brenda and their adult children. Pastor Dean will be missed by many.”
Fellow Pastor David Stewart Jr. called Elliott a “good friend” and a “generous ... sincere person,” MLive.com reported.
Others shared the same sentiments. DanaSue Van Kampen said in a Facebook post Elliott “was one of the most joyous, caring and generous people” she has known.
“He truly loved people like Jesus did,” the woman said. “This is a very tough loss.”