LANSING, Mich — The Lansing Police Department has released the identities of the two young adults killed in a devastating single-car crash early Saturday morning. Authorities confirmed Monday that 20-year-old Cheniya Rogers and 21-year-old Nathan Pentecost Jr. both died at the scene of the crash, which occurred in the 300 block of West Oakland Avenue.
According to investigators, the crash took place around 4:30 a.m. when a vehicle carrying five occupants left the roadway and slammed into a utility pole. The force of the impact was catastrophic, leaving Rogers and Pentecost with fatal injuries. Emergency crews pronounced both victims dead at the scene.
The three other passengers inside the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for treatment. One of the survivors remained listed in critical condition as of Saturday, while the conditions of the other two have not yet been publicly updated.
Police officials stated that alcohol and excessive speed appear to have played significant roles in the crash. “This is yet another heartbreaking example of how dangerous decisions behind the wheel can have permanent, life-altering consequences,” a Lansing Police spokesperson said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families of Cheniya Rogers and Nathan Pentecost Jr. as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”
The Lansing Police Crash Investigation Unit is continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the collision, including potential charges for the driver of the vehicle. Officials have not released the driver’s name at this time.
Residents in the area reported being awakened by the sound of the crash and witnessing emergency crews working at the scene. “I heard this loud boom, like an explosion,” said a nearby resident. “When I looked outside, I saw the car completely wrecked around the pole. It was awful.”
This crash marks one of several recent fatal traffic incidents in Lansing involving young drivers and high speeds, prompting renewed calls for road safety awareness in the community.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Lansing Police Department at (517) 483-4600 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
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