ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. – Prairieville Police identify Melissa Jo Ulferts, 42, as the victim of a deadly crash that occurred Wednesday night.
They said she was married to the driver, Elvin Kizziar, 36. The couple lived in Plainwell, which is in Allegan County.
Police said bad weather caused the single vehicle accident they were involved in. Kizziar lost control on an icy Cressey Road and crashed into a tree.
Ulferts, who was in the passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said she died from blunt force trauma.
A family friend said Ulferts, who had her license, was afraid to drive in those slippery conditions. So Kizziar drove instead.
Kizziar was found to be driving on an expired license. That landed him in the Barry County Jail.
Prairieville Police said pills were also found in the vehicle and Kizziar admitted to taking some before driving. The family says they were prescribed.
Investigators are waiting on blood tests to determine if an illegal amount was in his system (as it relates to operating a motor vehicle.) FOX 17 learned that Kizziar has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1996.
His record includes charges of domestic violence, retail fraud and assaulting or resisting a police officer.
Kizziar’s stepdaughter said despite his past, he is a good man and that there is much more to the story.
Stay with FOX 17 news for the latest.
