Three Friends Die in Michigan Lake Boat Collision

Three close friends were killed in a nighttime boat collision on Lake St. Clair in Michigan, with a fourth person surviving the incident and currently hospitalized. The crash occurred Wednesday night, October 7, near MacRay Harbor, involving a black Formula Thunderbird and a white Sea Ray Sundancer. The victims, identified as Craig Miller, 52, Heidi Baldwin, 56, and Gerald Grzadzinski, 64, were pronounced dead at the scene after rescue crews recovered them the following morning around 5 a.m. Grzadzinski's wife, Dawn, survived by clinging to a cushion from the wreckage and swimming to shore for help.

Friends described the victims as a tight-knit group who shared a strong bond and frequently spent weekends and vacations together on the water. Jodi and Edward Wanket, close friends of the deceased, shared memories of their companions. Baldwin, an Air Force veteran and mother to a 15-year-old son, was remembered as a generous and outspoken individual who was "always laughing." Grzadzinski, known as "Lenny," was a beloved boat mechanic who was intimately familiar with Lake St. Clair. Miller, an electrician and father of three, was described as a cheerful man and the "life of the party."

Dawn Grzadzinski recounted her ordeal of escaping the sinking boat and swimming towards shore for an extended period. She is currently recovering in the hospital, with her specific injuries undisclosed. Funeral arrangements for the victims have not yet been announced.

Mental health experts have been consulted as the investigation into the cause of the collision continues. The Macomb County Sheriff's Office has identified the driver of the other vessel involved and stated that person is cooperating with detectives. No criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Craig Miller's family has established a GoFundMe page to help with financial burdens resulting from his death, including mortgage payments and household expenses.