GEORGETOWN TWP. — The driver of a pickup truck was killed after crashing into a large piece of construction equipment causing the vehicle to catch fire late Friday night.  The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office had identified the driver as Steven Paauwe of Jenison.

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office responded at about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 21 to a vehicle fire. Paauwe was driving on Cottonwood Drive near Allen Springs Lane, which is closed to traffic due to construction. The vehicle then struck a large grater and caught fire.


Ottawa County sheriff's officials say they found no witnesses to the crash, according to WOOD TV-8.

The victim's body was burned to the extent that investigators weren't able to immediately ascertain whether the victim was a male or female.

The truck involved did not have a license plate so police were initially struggling to determine who was involved.

The pickup truck had extensive damage to its front end from an apparent high speed collision on a part of the road where the pavement had been torn up leaving an uneven dirt surface.

The crash remains under investigation.