A 33-year-old Northport woman and 39-year-old Gaylord man were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Mayfield Township early Friday morning.

According to the Michigan State Police, troopers responded to the scene of the crash at County Road 633 near Miller Road at approximately 12:05am Friday. A preliminary investigation showed that a white Jeep with two occupants was traveling west on Miller Road, while a gray Jeep with two occupants was traveling south on County Road 633. The white Jeep was supposed to come to a stop sign at the intersection of Miller and County Road 633. However, the stop sign had been damaged in a previous incident and was laying in the ditch. Because of this, the white Jeep did not stop and was struck by the gray Jeep on the passenger side.

The driver of the white Jeep, a 33-year-old Northport woman, was taken to the hospital but died from her injuries. Her passenger, a 39-year-old Gaylord man, died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the gray Jeep, a 47-year-old Copemish woman, and her passenger - a 15-year-old Copemish girl - were both taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash.

Troopers were assisted by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, Blair Township Fire Department, and MMR. According to MSP, witness statements indicated the stop sign was still upright as of 10pm Thursday. Investigators believe an unreported incident occurred at the intersection between 10pm and midnight. The Grand Traverse County Road Commission released a statement that it "discovered for the first time that the stop sign was no longer standing when GTCRC staff responded to the scene of the accident upon being contacted by Central Dispatch to close the road following the accident. GTCRC crews immediately installed two temporary stop signs at the location. It is the practice of GTCRC to promptly install temporary stop signs upon being notified of an issue."

If anyone traveled through the area during between 10pm Thursday and 12am Friday and has information regarding the stop sign that could assist investigators, please call the Gaylord Regional Communications Center at 989-732-5141.