Family, Friends Write Letters To Remember Student Who Drove Off Unfinished Bridge
OAKLAND COUNTY (WWJ) -- Funeral arrangements are being finalized for 21-year-old Oakland University student Cody Petzold, who died in an accident on 12 Mile Rd. and I-75 in Madison Heights on Friday.
Petzold died after he drove a pickup truck around and through two construction barricades, crashing from the southbound I-75 overpass onto 12 Mile Road early Friday morning,
OU Senior Lelia Cotton was in the same Human Resources Development program with Petzold and said that classes just won't be the same without him.
"He was so lively and enthusiastic that I just can't think of him not being there anymore," Cotton said. "He's probably one of the smartest people who I've ever met. This doesn't make any sense to me."
According to police, the pickup entered I-75 from the closed ramp and drove through an additional barricade on the freeway into the section of the bridge that was under construction. The vehicle drove off of the bridge, turned over and landed on the roadway below.
Petzold's family and close friends are asking anyone who knew him to write letters as a way to say goodbye.
"I my letter I think I'll just write how, even though I'm devastated, I'm just really thankful for the times that we had and all of the laughs that we shared together," Cotton said. "If it wasn't for him and his organization, I probably wouldn't have even passed."
