Married couple identified in fatal collision in Corktown

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

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

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

Larry and Tahisha Smith just left MGM Casino when they saw the accident.

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

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

Now, many are trying to find 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 done it because see how it ended, I mean, three lives are gone, what for?” Smith said. “It was something I never want to see again. My heart is with the family because this is a difficult way to lose someone. “

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

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

A GoFundMe was created to help pay for funeral costs. You can donate here.