Police saw a vehicle that nearly hit a curb in
NILES, MI — No charges will be issued related to a fatal crash that killed a driver who was fleeing from police, the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office reports.
At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28, the Niles dispatch center broadcast a « be on the lookout for » a man leaving Dale’s Mini Mart intoxicated who had caused a disturbance, including a description of the vehicle with some unique particulars, the prosecutor’s office said.
A deputy on patrol in a marked Berrien County Sheriff’s Department vehicle observed the described vehicle in the City of Niles stopped at a green light and saw the vehicle almost hit a curb while accelerating, the news release states.
Berrien County man dead after high-speed police chase near Niles
The deputy attempted a traffic stop using overhead red and blue lights, believing the information provided and observed was sufficient to stop the driver, suspecting he was intoxicated. The suspect vehicle pulled into a parking lot before abruptly leaving the parking lot and speeding off, the prosecutor’s office said.
The suspect driver drove recklessly reaching speeds over 100 miles per hour and passed cars on Niles-Buchanan Road on the left and the right, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The deputy maintained a distance and attempted to keep a view of the suspect vehicle. The deputy, having to slow for traffic, accelerated to maintain a view but discovered the suspect vehicle had left the roadway. Upon leaving the roadway, the suspect vehicle hit a tree, the prosecutor’s office said.
The deputy and emergency personnel arriving at the scene had difficulty removing the suspect from the vehicle. He was transported to a South Bend hospital where he died, police said.
The Michigan State Police investigated the crash scene and determined the suspect vehicle was going 87 miles per hour when it left the road.
The driver was identified as David Bross, 24, of Three Oaks. Autopsy results indicate Bross’ death was a result of the crash. His blood alcohol level was.17, the prosecutor’s office said.
« It is important to note that law enforcement has a responsibility to the public to keep our roadways safe, » Berrien County Michael Sepic said in the news release. « When police officers suspect a driver is operating while intoxicated, they have a duty to the public to attempt to stop that individual. This reduces the risk to the public of such a driver causing a crash. No charges will result from this crash, as this deputy was not criminally negligent, nor negligent at all, in the performance of his duties that July afternoon. »
