Contact: Sgt. Joy Matthews
EM: joy.matthews@kentcountymi.gov
Supervisor Approval: Sgt. Mario Morey
Incident Type: Fatal Accident
Case Number: 20-123280

ADA TOWNSHIP, Mich (Oct. 9, 2020) – On 10/09/2020, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office issued charges on David and Nichole Kooistra for allowing alcohol consumption by a minor on premises (social gathering) after an 18-year-old who attended a birthday party died in a car crash.

On 06/20/2020 at 10:59 PM, deputies from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle car crash where the vehicle was on fire. The crash happened on Pettis Ave. NE south of 2 Mile Rd. NE in Ada Township. Initial investigation revealed that a 2019 GMC Acadia was driving northbound when it went off the road and flipped over, causing the vehicle to start on fire. The driver was the only person in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was John Holmes (18) of Grand Rapids.

Investigators from the KCSO determined that Holmes went to a birthday party with 25-30 students from Grand Rapids Christian High School. The homeowners, David and Nichole Kooistra, did not supply alcohol, however, they were aware that alcohol was being consumed by minors. Holmes was seen by several partygoers consuming alcohol. He left the party in the vehicle that he arrived in and later crashed.

The autopsy results showed that at the time of the car crash, Holmes’ blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was three times the legal limit and that he had THC in his system.

###