On a quiet Sunday afternoon near Goodland Township in Lapeer County, the tight-knit residents of the North Branch community were stunned to hear that one of their own, 49-year-old Steven Henderson, had lost his life in a devastating single-vehicle crash on southbound M‑53 (Van Dyke) near Muck Road. The call came in around 4:00 p.m., and by the time responders arrived, Steven’s life had tragically come to a close.
According to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office, Steven was driving a 2023 Kia K5 when his vehicle left the roadway on a curved section, traveled into a ditch, struck an embankment, became airborne and rolled before coming to rest on its tires. In a cruel twist of fate, Steven was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Despite the immediate efforts of a passing motorist who started CPR and called 911, emergency teams on scene declared him dead.
A wide range of emergency responders converged on the scene: Lapeer County deputies, the Imlay City Police Department, the Goodland Township Fire Department, the Lapeer County EMS, the Metamora Township Police Drone Division, and the county’s Reconstruction Team. To allow for a full investigation and cleanup, Van Dyke was closed for approximately three hours while deputies processed the scene.
Investigators say the crash remains under active review. At this stage, there has been no formal determination that excessive speed or alcohol were factors in the tragic incident. The lack of a seatbelt, however, has emerged as a heartbreaking key detail in what was otherwise a sudden and silent afternoon.
For those who knew Steven, the loss is deeply personal. Neighbors remember him as a kind and caring man who would roll up his sleeves to help others at a moment’s notice. One resident expressed it simply: “North Branch has lost a truly wonderful person. Steven was always there for others, and his absence leaves a hole in all our hearts.” His warmth and generosity are the legacy his friends and family will carry forward.
In the days since, friends and family have begun sharing stories of Steven’s positive influence—how he could light up a room with his laugh, offer a hand without being asked, and always show up for his community. His sudden passing has shaken a place where people still talk to one another, share memories on porches, and look out for one another’s kids. The community is now coming together to find comfort, share stories, and remember the man they lost.
A Celebration of Life service will be announced in the near future by Steven’s family, giving the community a chance to honor him collectively. Until then, North Branch will hold his memory close—one more gentle soul taken too soon but never forgotten.