Authorities with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office are asking for information on the person police believe is responsible for causing a Sister Lakes man to drive off a Silver Creek Township road and strike a tree Monday, according to department officials.

Deputies with the department were dispatched to a reported accident near the intersection of Middle Crossing and Townhall roads outside Dowagiac around 1:03 p.m. that afternoon. On the scene, officers discovered that a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Michael Edgerly had driven off the road and collided with a nearby tree.

Police believe the accident occurred when Edgerly, who was traveling west on Middle Crossing Road at the time, attempted to turn onto Townhall Road when a second vehicle, traveling east on Middle Crossing, also tried to turn onto Townhall and failed to yield to Edgerly. As a result, the Sister Lakes man swerved to avoid the other driver, resulting in the accident.

First responders had to extract Edgerly from the driver’s side seat of the vehicle. Crews with MedFlight then transported the man to South Bend Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Eyewitnesses describe the second vehicle as a White Jeep Liberty. The driver of the vehicle sped off following the crash, police said.

Anyone with information about the driver and/or owner of one of these vehicles that may have been in the area yesterday are asked to call the Cass County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 1-800-462-9328 or the Cass County Dispatch at (269) 445-2481.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the accident. This case remains under investigation.

Officers with the Pokagon Tribal Police and crews with the Sister Lakes, Indian Lake and Dowagiac fire departments, Pride Care Ambulance, and Medflight assisted deputies at the scene.