Coopersville man charged in crash that killed Marne motorcyclists

Aug. 07--WRIGHT TWP. -- A Coopersville man has been arraigned on eight charges related to a crash that killed a Marne couple who were on a motorcycle Sunday night.

Bruce Edward Ross, 63, was arraigned Monday in Ottawa County District Court in Hudsonville via video from the county jail.

Ross was charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death; two counts of driving while license suspended causing death; and one count each of operating while intoxicated third offense, operating without insurance, unlawful use of registration and forging a license document. Bond was set at $50,000 cash, said Capt. Mark Bennett of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.

Police said Ross was driving a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee south on 40th Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday when his SUV struck a motorcycle that was eastbound on Cleveland Street in Wright Township, west of Marne. The Jeep pulled in front of the motorcycle, which struck the SUV in its passenger side door.

Two Marne residents on the motorcycle -- Larry Hein, 72, and Joyce Hein, 67 -- were pronounced dead after being taken to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids by ambulance and helicopter, according to Sgt. Jay Douglas of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office. They were both wearing helmets at the time of the crash, Douglas said.

Ross suffered minor injuries in the crash, Douglas said, and he was arrested at the scene for driving while intoxicated and causing death.

Also responding to the scene were the Wright-Tallmadge and Coopersville-Polkton fire departments.

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