By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. reported Monday the death of David Hadley due to injuries received in a traffic accident on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Hadley, 58, of Niles, was driving a pickup truck that lost control on a snowy roadway and struck a tree, starting a fire in the engine compartment.
The accident occurred on M-40, south of Hoffman Street in Newberg Township.
Alan Pearson and Nathan Buchhold, both of Marcellus, were passing by and pulled Hadley from his burning vehicle.
In another incident, a two-vehicle crash in Milton Township Monday night sent a Buchanan woman to the hospital.
Underwood Jr. reports his deputies investigated a personal-injury accident that occurred at 7:47 p.m. Nov. 29 at U.S. 12 and M-60.
Frederick Bell, 24, of Glen Burnie, Md., was eastbound on U.S. 12 when he saw a vehicle start to pull out in front of him. When attempting to brake, he lost control, striking the other vehicle, driven by Jennifer Conn, 31, of Buchanan.
It is believed the wet roadway played a factor in the crash.
All parties were using safety belts. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.
SMCAS, the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service of Niles, treated and released Bell.
SMCAS transported Conn to Lakeland Hospital, where she was being treated for her injuries.
Michigan State Police, Pokagon Tribal Police and Niles Fire and Rescue also assisted the Sheriff's Office.
Underwood announced there were 73 traffic crashes handled by Cass County law enforcement, emergency medical services and fire departments from 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, until 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.
Most resulted from the first major snow of the season.
With snow beginning to accumulate on Cass County roadways at approximately 2 p.m. on Nov. 24, the first traffic crash was reported to Cass County Central Dispatch at 2:38 p.m.
The majority of the calls occurred within the next five to six hours, but continued through the evening and into Thanksgiving Day.
During this time there were 60 property-damage crashes and 13 crashes which involved personal injuries.
Underwood reminds motorist to slow down, leave plenty of reaction space between vehicle and to just be extremely cautious in their driving habits during snow and ice events this winter.