40-year-old Sparta man was killed in Michigan

A 40-year-old Sparta man was killed Thursday night when he drove through a stop sign and struck a tree, police say.

Kent County sheriff's deputies were called to the scene at 7 Mile Road and Pine Island Drive at 11:20 p.m. April 3.

Investigators say Timothy Hiemstra had been eastbound on 7 Mile Road in a 2000 Ford Focus when he failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection with Pine Island Drive. He was the only person in the Focus and there were no other vehicles involved.

Hiemstra was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators are still working to determine what happened in moments before the crash.