Westphalia Township, MI — A heartbreaking accident claimed the lives of 50-year-old Eric Miles and his 5-year-old granddaughter, Ronnie Miles, after their utility task vehicle (UTV) broke through ice on a private pond along Clinton Road on January 21. Clinton County sheriff’s deputies responded around 5:20 p.m. to reports of two people trapped in freezing water, rushing to the scene in hopes of a rescue.

The victims, both residents of the Portland area, were pulled from the water and transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to their injuries. Eric Miles, a Pewamo-Westphalia High School graduate, was well-known in the community, while young Ronnie was cherished by family, friends, and neighbors alike. The initial investigation confirmed that the UTV had crashed through the pond’s ice, although authorities continue to examine the circumstances leading to the incident.

In the wake of this devastating loss, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Ronnie’s parents, Mason and Grace Daugherty. The fundraiser has already raised over $39,000 to help with funeral expenses, the emotional burden of grieving two loved ones, and caring for their two young sons. Mason, who worked alongside Eric on the family farm, faces the heart-wrenching reality of losing both a father and a child, while Grace mourns the loss of her father and daughter simultaneously.

The community has rallied around the family during this difficult time, offering prayers, support, and condolences. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of winter activities on frozen bodies of water, even in familiar settings, and the fragility of life in unexpected moments.