72-year-old woman struck and killed on highway after blowing a tire

ALLENGAN COUNTY, Mich. -- A pedestrian was hit and killed on U.S. 131 Thursday night after they stopped on the side of the highway due to a tire issue, Michigan State Police say.

At around 7:55 p.m. police were called to the scene just north of Wayland, Mich. where they discovered the driver of a white Buick Lacross was travelling north on the highway when the vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian.

Police say the 72-year-old female from Grand Rapids had pulled her vehicle over onto the shoulder of the freeway after one of its tires became disabled.

"The pedestrian exited the car and was struck and killed," Michigan State Police said. "The initial investigation shows that the pedestrian was in the lane of travel when they were struck."

The driver of the vehicle, a 44-year-old Kalamazoo man, was wearing his seatbelt, police say, and it is unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor in this crash.