Married couple identified in fatal crash in Corktown

DETROIT – Rodney and Marlene Rodriguez’s family and friends remember the two after they died in a two-car collision on Michigan Avenue.

According to a GoFundMe page, Rodney and Marlene were married for 43 years. They were loving parents, grandparents, and committed to the city of Detroit. They were both well known in their neighborhood and had a great heart to help others.

Rodney just picked up his wife from work at a city casino when the accident happened on New Year’s Eve.

Larry and Tahisha Smith were leaving the MGM Casino when they saw the crash.

“We heard the noise, we didn’t know exactly what it was when we got up there, we saw the hood and another part of the car shattered,” Tahisha Smith said.

Police said Rodney and Marlene were at their Mercury Sable which split in half in the collision. Officers told Local 4 that an 87-year-old man was driving a 2017 Cadillac and was heading west on Michigan Avenue when he collided with Rodney and Marlene.

Now, many are trying to figure out what happened.

“I don’t know if it was the gray car that did it or the Cadillac that did it, but whoever did it shouldn’t have been doing it because look how it ended, I mean three lives, for what? ” Smith said. “It was something I never want to see again. My heart goes out to the family because it’s a hard way to lose someone. “

Police said the 87-year-old driver also died.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up.

A GoFundMe has been created to help pay for funeral expenses. You can donate here.