Car crash totals Dussel’s greenhouse days after fire

Published 10:15 am Friday, November 9, 2018

CASSOPOLIS — Three people were arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident which took place at Dussel’s Farm Market in Cassopolis Wednesday.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., police officers were sent to the market, where a vehicle had crashed into the structure days after a fire mostly destroyed the building

Cass County Central Dispatch reported the vehicle, which was carrying three people, hit a motor vehicle and greenhouse on the property. One or all of the passengers fled the scene, according to CCD. The driver of the car, a 42-year-old Three Rivers resident, and two passengers were later apprehended and lodged at the Cass County Jail.

The accident and police pursuit took place just three days after the farm stand of Dussel’s Farm Market caught fire, devastating the inside of the building and destroying an estimated $100,000 in goods. Despite the devastation of the fire, preparation for reopening, and an automobile accident on the premises, owner Mark Dussel was available for comment.

“It came off M-60 and went through one of the greenhouses. It totaled it,” Dussel said.

As it happened, the vehicle missed the burned out farm stand and went straight into the very greenhouse where the Dussel’s team was preparing to reopen. The family had hoped to reopen in a little over a week after the fire, which took place Sunday. The automobile accident significantly set back their plans, however. Dussel was unsure when the stand would reopen, but was still determined to get the stand back up and running quickly.

“We’re going to patch it up and see what we can do,” Dussel said.

The vehicle hit one of the Dussel’s worker’s trucks, but no one was injured during the event. By the time Dussel was available for comment, all three suspects were in police custody.

Cass County Sheriff’s Department representatives said that the cause of the accident was drug related.

Assisting was Life Care Ambulance, Penn Fire, Michigan State Police and Cassopolis Village Police.