By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz announced Tuesday's trial for Brian Bretschneider, 29, of Edwardsburg, was dismissed in a plea agreement.
The dismissal came in connection with the death of Peter M. Strachan, 43, of Granger, Ind., on Nov. 2, 2004, in a traffic accident. Injured in the crash was Brian Matthew Smallbone, 37, of Dowagiac.
Bretschneider was charged with one count of negligent homicide and one count of felony driving in the accident.
Strachan was a passenger in a southbound pickup truck driven by Smallbone, according to the police report.
Their vehicle collided with a front-end loader operated by Bretschneider on Conrad Road, north of U.S. 12.
Fitz said Bretschneider pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property and to careless driving, which is a one-year misdemeanor and/or a $2,000 fine. On his original charges, he would have faced a two-year prison term.
Bretschneider will be sentenced before Fourth District Judge Paul Deats.
A third passenger in the rear seat of the pickup truck was a 9-year-old child who was treated for injuries.