Grace Nolan, a 25 year old Oakland University student and celebrated distance runner, was killed in a single vehicle crash in Walled Lake, authorities and family members said. Emergency crews extricated two critically injured occupants from the wreck before transporting them to Henry Ford Hospital. One of the occupants was pronounced dead at the hospital. The second occupant, identified by the family as Nolan’s boyfriend Matt, was hospitalized in critical condition.
The Walled Lake Fire Department reported crews responded after receiving a call about a personal injury accident where a vehicle had struck a tree. Commerce Township Fire Department assisted on scene while police temporarily closed a nearby stretch of road for the response. The family announced the death on social media and in an obituary, asking that friends keep Matt and his loved ones in their thoughts.
Beyond the immediate facts of the crash, the loss resonated across the university and Michigan running communities. Oakland University confirmed Nolan was a second year medical student at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. The Detroit Free Press Marathon said Nolan had planned to lead its women’s elite field and that she had run the race before. The marathon organization praised her volunteer work at free clinics and mentoring young runners.
Reactions And Legacy
Oakland University officials and coaches paid tribute to Nolan’s impact on campus. Athletic director Steve Waterfield said her death was “devastating” and recalled her gratitude for opportunities at the school. Cross country and track coach Paul Rice called Nolan “one of a kind,” describing her as a tireless worker who put others first. RunMichigan and other regional outlets noted her competitive record and community presence.
Nolan was a three time All Horizon League cross country selection and won the Horizon League 10,000 meter title with a championship record in her final collegiate season. She had been nominated as a Horizon League NCAA Woman of the Year candidate and received the conference’s Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor. Teammates and local running groups remembered her for kindness, drive and service, including volunteering as a phlebotomist and helping Girls on the Run.
The family said they will hold a celebration of life at Oakland University, with further details to be announced. Community members suggested tributes such as a memorial mile or scholarship, while university leaders and race organizers emphasized Nolan’s influence on teammates and patients she served.
