Teen charged in crash death
Published 2:38 pm Thursday, June 1, 2006
By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Prosecutor Victor A. Fitz announced Wednesday that a negligent homicide charge has been authorized against Jeremy Ryan Shank, 18, of Dowagiac.
The charge arises from an April 29 fatal crash at Yaw Street and California Road in Silver Creek Township.
As a result of that accident, Hunter Topping, the passenger in a 2002 Corvette, was killed.
Fitz said the defendant turned himself in on the warrant May 31 and is scheduled for arraignment on June 14.
Negligent homicide carries a penalty of two years and/or $2,000 fine.
Shank, a Union High School senior whose class graduates Sunday, was charged with the crime after investigators from the Cass County Sheriff's Office submitted their findings on the crash to the Prosecutor's Office.
Investigators believe that the crash occurred when the vehicle driven by Shank left the roadway due to excessive speed and struck a tree on the afternoon of the DUHS prom.
Shank's passenger, Hunter Topping, 16, of Dowagiac, died later from injuries related to the traffic crash.
Shank was released from the Cass County Jail on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, according to the Sheriff's Office.