Married couple identified in fatal Corktown collision

STRAIT – Family and friends of Rodney and Marlene Rodriguez remember the two after they were killed in a two-car collision on Michigan Avenue.

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

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

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

“We heard the noise, we weren’t sure what it was exactly the moment we got in there, we saw the hood and another part of the car crashed,” Tahisha Smith said.

Police say Rodney and Marlene were in their Mercury Sable which was split in two in the crash. Officers told Local 4 that an 87-year-old man was driving a 2017 Cadillac and was heading west on Michigan Avenue when he ran into 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 done it because look how it ended, I mean three lives lost, for what? Smith said. “It was something I never want to see again. My heart goes out to the family because it’s such a hard way to lose someone.

Police said the 87-year-old driver was also deceased.

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

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