Full Notification

3 Injured and 1 Killed In Traffic Crash
 
Sheriff Richard J. Behnke of the Cass County Sheriff's Office reports that his office responded to a three vehicle crash at the intersection of M-51 and M-152 in Silver Creek Township, Cass County, Michigan. This crash occurred on 08/09/2021 at approximately 1741 hours.
 
Initial investigation shows that the driver of the GMC Sierra driven by Robert Baxter Jr (46 year old Dowagiac, MI resident) was turning west bound on M-152 from M 51 when he turned in front of the Ford Fusion sedan headed south bound on M-51. The driver of the Ford Fusion sedan is Cody Hetler (21 year old Berrien Springs, MI resident and passenger Misty Marko 21 year old Decatur, MI resident)  was unable to stop and collided into the side of his vehicle sending Baxter's vehicle into a Ford F150 driven by Jeremy Corwin (46 year old Decatur, MI resident). Robert Baxter Jr along with passengers Kisha Baxter (47 year old Dowagiac, MI resident) and Bryan Newman (23 year old Osceola, IN resident) were transported by Pride Care Ambulance to South Bend Memorial Hospital for treatment of their injuries. A fourth passenger Elizabeth Schoen (21 years old Osceola, IN resident) was pronounced deceased at the crash scene.  Everyone involved was wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash except for Elizabeth Schoen. Alcohol is not believed to be factor in this crash.
 
Assisting agencies were Tribal Police, Dowagiac Police, Dowagiac City Fire Department, Keeler Township Fire Department, Pride care Ambulance Service, VBEMS Ambulance Service, Michigan Department of Transportation, True's Towing, Wayne Township Fire Department and Sister Lakes Fire Department.