A tragic three-vehicle crash in Buckeye Township on Monday afternoon has claimed the life of a 42-year-old man, leaving a community mourning and authorities searching for answers.

According to the Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 4:40 p.m. on March 23, 2026, to the intersection of West Howard Road and South River Road following reports of a serious personal injury accident involving multiple vehicles. Emergency responders arrived quickly to assess the situation and provide aid to those involved.

Investigators say a 2001 Buick LeSabre, driven by an 86-year-old woman from Beaverton, was traveling southbound on South River Road when it failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle entered the intersection and collided with a westbound 2018 Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by a 23-year-old man, also from Beaverton.

The force of the impact caused the pickup truck to veer out of control and crash into a 2017 Buick Encore that was preparing to turn north onto South River Road. The driver of the Encore, identified as Aaron B. Eagleson, sustained critical injuries in the collision. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The drivers of the other two vehicles were transported to local hospitals with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Authorities have not released their identities but confirmed they are cooperating with investigators as the case continues to unfold.

The intersection remained closed for several hours as Michigan State Police accident reconstruction teams assisted in examining the crash site. Officials noted that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident, though this has not yet been confirmed. The investigation remains ongoing, and findings will be submitted to prosecutors as the community reflects on the sudden and tragic loss.