By James Windell
On June 11, 2026, Kristin Ayres rode her bike to handbell choir practice at the First Congregational Church in South Haven.
When the practice was over, Kris put on her helmet and biked down to the Shell Gas Station on Broadway, where she got off her bike and stepped off the curb to walk across Broadway on her way home.
She was barely into the street when a red pickup truck made a left turn to go north on Broadway. The driver, a man from Cicero, Illinois, never saw Kristin and plowed into her.
Art Ayres, her husband of 52 years, was at home waiting for her return when he received a phone call from Bronson Hospital telling him that Kris was being treated for injuries.
“When I got there, she had been assessed and they were getting her ready to transport her to the Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo,” Art said. “I was able to see her for about two minutes before they took her.”
Later, Art was to learn that his wife had multiple injuries including two broken legs, seven broken ribs and a punctured lung. She required surgery and she was on a ventilator for several days.
In a recent interview, Art said that by July 1, she was taken off the ventilator and was stable enough to be moved to Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids where she will continue her rehabilitation.
“She is making good strides considering that she had to get to a certain oxygen level before they would transfer her,” Art said on July 2 enjoying a coffee at Flying Saucer Café in downtown South Haven. “Once she got off the ventilator, she really perked up in terms of her color, her demeanor, and even her facial expressions.”
Kris and Art have been active members of the South Haven community for more than 20 years. Besides being involved with the First Congregational church, Kris is a member of Scott Club. Art has been a member of the Rotary Club since 2014.
According to fellow Rotarian Tom Renner, almost immediately after her accident Rotary members began contributing to a fund created through the Rotary Club. Art and Tom Renner began communicating on almost a daily basis to Rotary Club members soon after the accident.
South Haven City Councilman Eddie Polk, speaking at a Ward One Community Action meeting on June 29, 2026, indicated that he had received a report from South Haven Police Chief Adam DeBoer about the accident.
Quoting from that report, Polk said that Kris’ accident was not the result of a vehicle going too fast. “The vehicle that struck the victim was stopped at the stop sign westbound at Superior and Broadway waiting to turn north, and the vehicle was crossing Broadway, was westbound. The driver said he looked for traffic and didn’t see any, so he proceeded with his turn and at that point struck the walker while she was walking a bike across the street.”
Polk and members of the Ward One Community Action Committee did go on to voice concerns about pedestrian accidents on Boadway Avenue and they indicated that often cars drive too fast on Broadway and there are no lights, except at Phoenix Street, to help ensure that pedestrians can safely cross Broadway.
Art said that charges haven’t been filed against the driver of the pickup that hit Kris, he said that he was sure charges would be brought against him by the prosecuting attorney.
In the meantime, Art described Kris as a woman with many friends and as a “very positive” person. “She’s just an active, positive, beautiful spirit,” he said.
He also said they have a tremendous support system in South Haven. That includes the Rotary Club and their efforts to collect donations to support Kris’ recovery.
“I think that reflects the support and the kinds of people there are in this community,” Art said.
To contribute to the Rotary Club of South Haven’s fund to help with medical and recovery‑related expenses for Kris, checks can be sent to Rotary of South Haven, P.O. Box 24, South Haven, MI 49090.
