GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A church group returning to West Michigan from a conference in Kentucky is dealing with the aftermath of a horrible car crash. The church's assistant pastor, Ernest 'Chuck' Yost, 64, was killed in the crash.
The crash happened on northbound I-69 near N Drive South in Tekonsha Township, Mich., at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.
Sandy Holts, 47, was in the backseat of the vehicle during the crash. Holtz considers herself lucky after suffering only minor injuries while lying in the backseat of the Chevy Trailblazer that crashed into a tree.
"I'm blessed, really blessed. God was good to me," said Holts.
The group from Grand Valley Gospel Temple "Voice of Pentecost" was on their way back from a conference in Monticello, Ky. Holts said that the group left Kentucky on Saturday.
Michigan State Police say the driver of the SUV fell asleep.
"I've drove back and forth to Alabama or Kentucky or wherever, and I've fought sleep too, so I think it was just something that just happened," said Holts.
Asleep during the crash, Holts describes the moment she woke up: "I remember a lady, a paramedic, an off-duty paramedic trying to open the back hatch. And she opened it, and I got out that way.Then she helped our pastor out, and we were sitting on the grass, and they were talking to us and telling us everything was going to be all right. They were on their cell phones trying to get the paramedics there."
Holts said that Yost was a part of the church since she was a little girl. Given the amount of time that Holts has known Yost, she describes him as a man who left a big impact on her life.
"Awesome, outgoing, funny, easy to get along with," said Holts. "Never a bad day. If he had a bad day, you didn't really know it."
Holts also said that she has taken the same trip to Kentucky before with the church, so it was a route that the driver was familiar with.
A "Celebration of Life Service" is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday April 18, at Grand Valley Gospel Temple "Voice of Penetcost" at O-3190 Riverhill Dr. NW, Grand Rapids.
