Cassopolis man dies in U.S. 12 crash

MASON TOWNSHIP — A Cassopolis man is dead and an Indiana man is in serious condition following a crash on U.S. Highway 12 in Mason Township Friday afternoon, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office were dispatched to a reported two-car crash at the intersection of Tharp Lake Road and the highway around 2:07 p.m. that afternoon. First responders found one of the drivers in the incident, 22-year-old David Michael Steven, of Cassopolis, dead at the scene, and the other driver, 23-year-old Adam Graigo, of Bristol, Indiana, severely injured.

The crash was caused after Graigo, who was driving north on Tharp Lake Road in his truck, drove past a stop sign at the intersection and struck Steven’s vehicle, a Mitsubishi Galant, which was heading west at the time. Graigo was ejected from his vehicle, which caught fire due to the damage, while Steven died from the injuries he sustained before authorities arrived.

Crews with Medflight airlifted Graigo to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition. In spite of the vehicle fire, Graigo did not suffer any burns.

Deputies are continuing to investigate the accident.

One injured in crash on Calvin Center Road

MASON TOWNSHIP — An Elkhart woman was injured following a crash on Calvin Center Road in Mason Township Friday afternoon, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a reported accident at an intersection at Calvin Center Road and Starbrick Street around 3:18 p.m. The crash was caused after 83-year-old Thomas Rea, of Edwardsburg, failed to stop at the intersection while heading west on Starbrick Street and crashed into a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Trevor Bennett, of Elkhart.

The crash injured one of Bennett’s passengers, 23-year-old Taneshea Wilson, of Elkhart. Crews with SESPA Ambulance transported her to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Safety belts were used, and alcohol was not a factor in the traffic crash. The crash remains under investigation.

Two injured in motorcycle versus car collision

WAYNE TOWNSHIP — Two Dowagiac residents were injured after the motorcycle they were riding was struck by a car on Dutch Settlement Street in Wayne Township Friday evening, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies with the department responded to a reported crash on Dutch Settlement near Glenwood Road around 9: 57 p.m. The accident occurred after 21-year-old Tyler Scott Wade, of Dowagiac, tried to turn into a driveway while driving east and failed to yield to a motorcycle driven by 42-year-old Michael Scott Friske, of Dowagiac, who was traveling west at the time.

Crews with Medflight airlifted Friske to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Friske’s passenger, 32-year-old Cherrell Marie Merwin, also of Dowagiac, was also injured in the accident, and was transported to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Wade and his passenger, Grace Leann Locke, were not injured in the crash.

Seat belts and helmets were worn at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.