It was just another ordinary Thursday night shift for Jessica Schmock. The 39-year-old mom from Jenison was simply trying to get back home to her family. But around 12:50 a.m. on Friday, everything changed in a split second. A wrong-way driver slammed directly into her car on Interstate 196.
The terrible crash happened right near the Lane Avenue overpass. Jessica was driving west when a sedan came speeding toward her from the opposite direction. The other driver was a 36-year-old man from Grand Rapids. He was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes.
The impact of the head-on collision was completely devastating. Emergency crews rushed to the scene as fast as they could. Sadly, it was already too late to save anyone. Officers pronounced both Jessica and the other driver dead right there at the scene.
Jessica leaves behind three children who are now dealing with an impossible reality. Her son, Hunter Graham, is completely heartbroken over the sudden loss. He said that she was truly the best mom ever. He just wishes he could tell her he loves her one more time.
Hunter quickly set up an online fundraiser to help pay for the funeral and cremation costs. He wrote a touching note about how much his mom loved everyone. The community stepped up almost immediately to support the grieving family. In just a short time, donations flew past $8,000 to help them out.
Troopers had to shut down the westbound side of I-196 for several hours. They needed to clear the heavy wreckage and figure out exactly what happened. Drivers had to find alternative routes until the highway finally opened back up around 5 a.m.
Right now, investigators are still trying to piece together the details. They confirmed that both drivers were alone in their vehicles. Officials have not stated if speeding or alcohol played a role in the crash. For Jessica’s family, a regular commute home turned into a permanent nightmare.
