DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac police arrested a driver for several violations after investigating a hit-and-run traffic crash Friday.

Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald reported that at approximately 9:38 a.m., officers of the Dowagiac Police Department were dispatched to a traffic crash on E. Division Street near W. Railroad Street where a vehicle rolled on its side, and the occupants were injured and trapped.  Officers arrived along with the Dowagiac Fire Department and members of the Wayne Township Fire Department to investigate.

Officers were advised that the suspect vehicle had fled the scene after the crash. Witnesses told police that the suspect vehicle was traveling south on W. Railroad Street and ran the stop sign at the intersection of E. Division Street.

The suspect vehicle struck the second vehicle in the passenger side rear door, which caused it to roll on its side. The suspect then fled the area at a high rate of speed with witnesses attempting to follow it.

Dowagiac and Wayne Township Firefighters extricated the occupants of the rolled vehicle. The vehicle was driven by Linda Walker, 65, of Fayette, Alabama. Passengers in the vehicle were Bobby Statler, 76, of Niles, and Brenda Starret, 65, of Dowagiac. All were transported to Ascension Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries by PRIDE Ambulance. All were treated and released.

Officers were given information by witnesses of the possible location of the suspect and suspect vehicle.  Officers located the suspect and vehicle at a residence in the 400 block of Michigan Avenue in Dowagiac. 

Upon contacting the driver, officers learned that his license is currently suspended and that he had been drinking all morning. 

The driver, a 21-year-old from South Bend, was arrested for operating while intoxicated, leaving the scene of a personal injury crash and driving while license suspended. 

He was lodged at the Cass County Jail on the charges.

The suspect’s name is being withheld pending his arraignment in Cass County 4th District Court.  All charges are pending authorization from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office.