Full Notification

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that deputies of the Cass County Sheriff's Office responded to a personal injury ORV crash on 6-25-23 at 20:36 pm.  This crash occurred in the 16000 block of Donnell Lake Street, in Cass County's Penn Township. Investigation of the crash showed that a ORV driven by Ryan Chris (34 yrs of Vandalia, MI) lost control of the ORV while navigating a turn and went off the roadway, up an embankment, striking a tree and turning on its side. Passenger Thomas Rohrer, (30 yrs of Goshen, IN) was injured in the crash and transported by PrideCare Ambulance to South Bend Memorial Hospital, and later transported to IU Hospital in Indianapolis for his injuries. Passengers, Blayne LeClaire (23 yrs of Niles, MI) and Nicholis Mammolenti (24 yrs of Elkhart, IN) were cleared by medical on scene with minor injuries. Alcohol does appear to be a contributing factor in this crash. Seatbelts were not worn at the time of the crash.

Assisting on scene were the Penn Township Fire Department, Pride Care Ambulance, Cassopolis Village Police, Pokagon Tribal Police, and Michigan State Police.  The crash remains under investigation.