Dowagiac Public Safety Director Thomas Atkinson, reports that his agency investigated a three-vehicle traffic accident with minor injuries.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:10 p.m. Thursday.
Officers were dispatched to an unknown accident at the intersection of Pokagon Street and M-51 South.
Officers found that a vehicle being driven by a 16-year-old Dowagiac resident was southbound on M-51 and attempted to turn right onto Pokagon Street.
While the first vehicle was making the right turn onto Pokagon Street it moved over towards the left turn lane. A second southbound vehicle driven by a 41-year-old Dowagiac area resident was in the south travel lane of M-51 and was subsequently struck by the first vehicle as it was completing its right turn.
The second vehicle then lost a front tire due to the initial collision, causing it to lose control and strike a third vehicle stopped at the stop sign of Pokagon Street on the west side of the intersection.
The third vehicle was driven by a 29-year-old Elkhart, Ind., subject and occupied by two small children.
A 17-year-old Dowagiac area resident was a passenger in the vehicle driven by the 16-year-old. That subject had a complaint of pain but no visible injuries. They were examined at the
scene by medical personnel, then released from the scene. The 16-year-old- driver of the first vehicle was cited for conducting an improper turn. Officers
of the Dowagiac Police Department were assisted at the scene by the Dowagiac Fire Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Pride Care EMS.