PUTNAM TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A stolen vehicle pursuit ended tragically Thursday when a 28-year-old Lansing man, identified as Gmo Person, died following a high-speed crash in Putnam Township. The incident has left the community and authorities grappling with the dangers of reckless driving and high-speed chases.

According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit began shortly before noon when a deputy located a stolen 2024 Range Rover traveling eastbound on Interstate 96 near Mason Road in Marion Township. The vehicle had been reported stolen on March 21 from East Lansing. Despite attempts to stop the driver, the vehicle exited the freeway and traveled south on D‑19 at speeds approaching 120 mph.

At the intersection of D‑19 and Swarthout Road, the stolen Range Rover collided with a 2023 Ford F-350 making a left turn, driven by a 55-year-old Pinckney resident. Following the impact, the stolen vehicle also struck a stopped 2021 Ford F-450. Neither occupant of the Range Rover was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Gmo Person was transported to the University of Michigan Hospital with critical injuries but later succumbed to his injuries. A 23-year-old male passenger was also hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities are investigating possible alcohol and drug use as contributing factors in the crash.

The driver of the Ford F-350 was unharmed. The crash caused the closure of D‑19 near Swarthout Road for approximately three hours while investigators, including the sheriff’s office, conducted a thorough examination of the scene. Assistance was provided by the Hamburg Township Police Department, Pinckney Police Department, Putnam Township Fire Department, and Livingston County EMS.

The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Crash Investigation Unit continues to investigate the crash and is urging anyone with information to come forward. Authorities emphasize the dangers of high-speed chases and reckless driving, noting the severe consequences such behavior can have for all involved.