Motorcycle was fatal crash victim’s pride and joy.

Scott Butler

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

EDEN TOWNSHIP — Scott Butler, 53, of Ludington died Sunday night as a result of a car/motorcycle crash. “His motorcycle was his pride and joy, it was one of the few hobbies he had because of his bad back,” Scott’s daughter, Cheyenne Butler, told MCP.

Butler was driving a motorcycle north on Scottville Road, with his wife, Melanie Butler, 53, as a passenger, when a Ford Fusion pulled out in front of the motorcycle at Hawley Road, causing the motorcycle to hit the driver side of the car. Melanie was critically injured and was flown by Aeromed helicopter from the scene to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital.

According to deputies on scene, the westbound Fusion was attempting to make a right-hand turn onto Scottville Road. Deputies said they were told by witnesses that the Ford stopped at the stop sign and then turned into the path of the northbound motorcycle. Neither Scott nor Melanie were wearing helmets, deputies stated. Scott Butler was declared dead at the scene. Information on the driver and passenger of the Ford were not available Sunday evening. A press release from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office is expected Monday morning.

Cheyenne said as of Sunday night, Melanie, her mother, was in critical condition with bleeding and swelling in her brain. She was in an medically induced coma.

Scott was a bartender at the Custer VFW Gold Bar Post and he also worked in the flooring installation business. “I just want everyone to know my dad was a great guy and he died doing something he loved so much,” Cheyenne said. “He always said live to ride, ride to live.”

Assisting on scene were Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Riverton Fire Department, Life EMS ambulance, Michigan State Police and Pere Marquette Fire Department.

The incident was the second motorcycle fatality in Mason County in less than two weeks. The first occurred on June 21 in Logan Township after the motorcycle driven by James William Jansen, 68, of Fountain, struck a deer on Masten Road near Hawley Road. Jansen and his wife, Marsha, 63, were both transported to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and he died the following day.