A 57-year-old St. Joseph man was killed yesterday when his Jeep Cherokee shot across the median on U.S. 12 and slammed into oncoming traffic near the U.S. 31 bypass in Bertrand Township, Berrien County. Deputies said the driver was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, and three other people were injured in the multi-vehicle wreck. State and local crews shut down that stretch of U.S. 12 while first responders worked the crash site.
The Berrien County Sheriff's Office said its crash reconstruction team is handling the investigation. That unit leads major roadway reconstructions in the county and works with local departments on serious and fatal crashes.
According to MLive, three vehicles were involved: the Jeep Cherokee that crossed into westbound U.S. 12, a Hyundai Sonata that had just turned onto the highway from the northbound U.S. 31 exit ramp, and a Ford F-350 that hit the Jeep on the passenger side. Deputies identified the Jeep’s driver as the 57-year-old St. Joseph man who was ejected and died at the scene. The Hyundai driver sustained minor injuries, and people in the pickup truck were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said. Investigators told reporters they believe speed was a factor in the crash.
Investigators, Speed and Safety
Speed-related crashes have become a growing concern for state traffic safety teams in Michigan, which list excessive speed among the riskiest driving behaviors tied to recent fatalities. The Michigan State Police and partner agencies are pushing stepped-up enforcement and roadway engineering changes in an effort to cut down on deadly collisions statewide.
As reported by MLive, investigators have not yet released the victim’s name, and no charges have been announced. Authorities say additional details will be made public as the reconstruction and review move forward.
