PHOTOS: Michigan Teen Alayiah Lazzara, 17, Dies After Wrong-Way Crash Caused by 38-Year-Old Driver Erin Louise Jones

A Michigan teenager has become the fourth victim to die following a horrific crash caused by a 38-year-old woman driving the wrong way down a highway, authorities said.

Alayiah Lazzara, 17, a student at Portage Community High School, died Monday from injuries she suffered in the head-on collision that occurred early Sunday morning on US-131.

Police say Erin Louise Jones, 38, was driving a Subaru Legacy southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway for nearly four miles before smashing into a Ford Fusion carrying a group of teenagers. The crash happened around 1 a.m.

Jones, the wrong-way driver, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said she exited at 129th Avenue, made a sudden U-turn, and began traveling in the opposite direction. A Gun Lake Tribal Police officer tried to intercept her but was unable to stop the car in time.

Michigan Teen Alayiah Lazzara, 17, Dies After Wrong-Way Crash Caused by 38-Year-Old Driver Erin Louise Jones

Authorities believe alcohol may have played a role in the tragedy, though toxicology results have not yet been finalized.

The Ford Fusion struck by Jones had been driven by Emmanuel Browning, 18, of Kalamazoo — a recent high school graduate and promising college football recruit who also died in the crash. Browning had committed to play at Davenport University, and his high school coach, Kurt Twitchell, posted a heartfelt tribute online, saying:

“We always ended every conversation with ‘I love you,’ and I’d give anything to say it one more time. Your legacy will live on forever.”

Also killed in the crash was Marcell Oliver, another 2025 Jackson High School graduate remembered by his school as a “quiet yet caring young man whose kindness left a lasting impact on those who knew him.” The school announced a balloon release ceremony to honor Oliver’s memory.

A Mother’s Heartbreak

At a vigil for Alayiah Lazzara, her mother, Erika Brown, said she was overwhelmed by the community’s outpouring of love.

“I really have no words,” Brown told WOOD-TV. “I can’t believe there’s been such a turnout for my baby. I just wish she were here to see how much people really love her.”

Through tears, Brown reflected on her daughter’s warmth and forgiving spirit.

“We bumped heads like any mom and teenage daughter, but she was my baby girl,” she said. “She didn’t hold grudges for long — she always found her way back into people’s lives.”

Brown said her niece Makiah, who had been in the car with Alayiah, was hospitalized with serious injuries.

“Alayiah had known Makiah since birth,” Brown said. “It’s heartbreaking knowing what [Makiah] is going through and how much she wishes her best friend were still here.”

As of Tuesday, Makiah was reported to be “stable” but experiencing weakness on her left side. Family members said she was alert and communicating through writing.

Her mother Erika Brown (left) was left speechless and emotional at a vigil for her late daughter

Alayiah (left) was the fourth person to die following Sunday's car crash, which also left one of her best friends Makiah in the hospital

Another teen, Amir Hicks, a 2025 Jackson High School graduate, is also recovering from the crash after undergoing surgery. The school posted on Facebook asking for prayers for Hicks, describing him as a student whose “bright smile, determination, and resilience” define the spirit of a true Viking. Hicks had planned to attend Grand Valley State University next fall.

A Community in Mourning

The devastating collision has left the Portage and Jackson communities reeling — mourning not only for the young lives lost but also for the families forever changed.

Four people are now dead — Erin Louise Jones, Emmanuel Browning, Marcell Oliver, and Alayiah Lazzara — as investigators continue to piece together what led Jones to drive the wrong way on US-131 that night.