BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. — Early Friday morning, a crash on I-196 in Hagar Twp. left one person dead.
Just after 5 a.m. emergency responders were dispatched to a rollover crash involving multiple vehicles on the freeway near Hagar Shore Rd. The crash involved a semi truck tractor hauling two dump trailers full of gravel as well as a Dodge pickup truck hauling a camper trailer and a Chevrolet Equinox.
Upon arrival, first responders found the driver of the Equinox unresponsive and pinned in his vehicle.
26-year-old Tyler Jackson from North Carolina was driving the Dodge pickup truck northbound on I-196 when another vehicle passed him on the left and swerved towards his truck. Police said to avoid the swerving vehicle, Jackson made an evasive maneuver which led to him losing control of his vehicle, striking a guardrail and jack-knifing. His vehicle slid to a stop blocking both lanes of the freeway.
Also traveling northbound on I-196 was 58-year-old Jimmy Cunningham from Mishawaka, Indiana. Cunningham was driving the Chevrolet Equinox, traveling behind Jackson. Police said Cunningham swerved left to try to avoid Jackson but still ended up hitting the Dodge in the front and wound up hitting the guardrail before coming to a stop on the left shoulder.
Shortly after both of the vehicles crashed, the Kenworth Semi Tractor that was pulling the two dump trailers filled with 160,000 pounds of gravel came up on the scene. The semi tried to slow, also driving to the left shoulder to avoid the Dodge, and ended up striking the Chevy, a police report revealed.
Police said the chain reaction of crashes caused the semi to slide towards the median and its rear trailer ended up sliding sideways and flipping over, spilling the load of gravel. The semi-truck driver, 59-year-old Dale Shepler from Pentwater, had just picked the load up in Niles and was heading to Ludington.
Jimmy Cunningham, the driver of the Chevrolet, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities did not share anything about the conditions of the others involved.
The vehicle that had initially caused the Dodge to swerve and lose control has not yet been identified and no description was obtained. The Berrien County Sheriff's Office is looking for the public's help in locating that driver. They said they do not believe road conditions were a factor in the crash.
If you were in the crash area and may have observed or witnessed anything you're asked to contact Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch at 269-983-3060, or the Berrien County Sheriff’s Detective Bureau at 269-983-7141 Ext 7224.
