Brian Pietenpol, 34; Mitchell, 5, and Abigail, 2
Kathi
Family On Its Way To Meet Mother, Baby
POSTED: 10:35 a.m. EST December 1, 2003
UPDATED: 11:50 a.m. EST December 1, 2003
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A father and his two young children died
in a minivan accident while on their way to visit relatives and meet
up with the rest of their family during Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Brian Pietenpol, 34, and his two children, Mitchell, 5, and Abigail,
2, from Commerce Township died Friday around 11 a.m., when their
minivan collided with a propane truck in Allegan County's Trowbridge
Township.
The crash happened on a snowy, rural road, police said.
The three family members were on their way to the western part of the
state. There, Brian's wife, Jody, and 8-week-old daughter, Ashley,
were waiting at Jody's parents' house, according to reports.
All three were wearing seatbelts, but were thrown from the van, Local
4 reported.
The news quickly spread to neighbors in the tight-knit community and a
memorial is set up in front of the door at the Pietenpol home in
Oakland County.
"He was a good family man," said Scott Cartwright, Brian Pietenpol's
neighbor.
Jody and Ashley are staying in Western Michigan, but their friends say
they will make sure they are taken care of when they return home.
"Our hearts go out to Brian's family," said Valerie Walker, the
couple's neighbor.