A serious traffic crash shut down the U.S.-131 expressway near the Bradley exit (No. 59) Sunday night just before midnight, causing the death of 29-year-old Wayland man Sean Michael Barone.

Deputies from the Allegan County Sheriff’s office and officers from the Gun Lake Tribal Police and Wayland Police Department responded to southbound US-131 north of the Shelbyville exit because a vehicle was parked in the southbound lanes with no lights on. They received additional reports of a head-on crash and vehicle fire at the same location. 

 Authorities found a vehicle on fire with a 22-year-old Plainwell man still trapped inside. Using fire extinguishers, they were able to suppress the fire so other officers could extricate the occupant.

 Barone, the driver of a second vehicle, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Authorities said they believe alcohol use was a factor in the crash.

Through witness statements and evidence on scene it is believed Barone was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes when his vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle, causing it to catch fire. The Plainwell man was transported to Spectrum Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of the expressway were shut down because of the crash.

WOOD-TV Channel 8 was reporting Monday night that there have been seven fatal traffic crashes this year on U.S.-131 as a result of wrong-way driving.