Police Say Charges Unlikely in Trenton Grad's Death

Walker police said Monday night the woman driving the car that struck and killed Jessie Winterholler, 19, of Trenton, will likely not be charged.

Though the incident is still under investigation, Sgt. Keith Mankel of the Walker Police Department said there doesn't appear to any fault of the driver, a 49-year-old woman from Holland.

"She has taken it very hard," Mankel said of the driver. "She is devastated by it, which is normal with something like this."

Mankel said alcohol and speed did not appear to be a factor in the crash and the driver was not arrested.

The woman's car struck Trenton High School graduate Winterholler as she attempted to cross a busy four-lane road on foot, according to Mankel.

Police said Winterholler was driving with two fellow female students of Grand Valley State, where Winterholler was a freshman, when one of the women asked to be let out of the car following a verbal argument.

Winterholler got out of the car and attempted to "go get her friend" and was struck and killed, according to a Walker police report.

Mankel said officials at Grand Valley State University activated their crisis team for the two woman driving with Winterholler the night she died and for those staying at the dormitory where Winterholler also stayed.

"Grand Valley was active in helping fellow students at the college," Mankel said.

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