Buchanan man involved in fatal accident

Published 12:04 pm Friday, August 2, 2013

A 77-year-old Bridgman woman is dead after she was rear-ended by a Niles Chemical Paint truck driven by a Buchanan man Thursday morning in Berrien County.

The Baroda-Lake Township Police Department is reporting that Helene Weitz was pronounced dead at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.

The driver of the other vehicle was Robert Kubisank, 66.

According to a press release, Baroda police responded to a personal injury accident at around 11:51 a.m. on Red Arrow Highway near the entrance to Warren Dunes Estates in Lake Charter Township.

A Kia Spectra driven by Weitz was southbound on Red Arrow Hwy. Weitz was stopped and waiting to turn left, into Warren Dunes Estates, where she lives.

Kubisank was also traveling south on Red Arrow Highway in a GMC stake truck carrying around 2,500 pounds of paint drums and owned by Niles Chemical Paint. The truck struck the rear of Weitz’s Spectra.

Weitz was transported by Medic 1 Ambulance to Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, where she was later pronounced dead. Kubisank declined medical treatment.

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Accident Reconstruction Unit is assisting with the investigation.

Assisting with the scene were Chikaming Township Police Department, Lake Township Fire/Rescue and Medic 1 Ambulance.

The accident is currently open, pending further investigation.