Full Notification

.Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. reports that his department is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred at approximately 2:52am, April 7, on M 60 near Pine Lake St In Howard Twp. Charles Edwards, 60 yrs, of Berrien Springs was driving a semi-tractor tanker filled with gasoline on M 60 at the intersection of Pine Lake St when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned. When the tanker came to rest on its side gasoline from the tanker began to leak out. It is not known why the vehicle left the roadway at this time. Mr. Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene.

Howard Twp Fire Department was first to arrive on the scene along with SMACS ambulance service. With the tanker leaking gasoline, the priority was to make the scene safe and evacuate area residents. Sheriff's Deputies assisted with evacuation while fire personnel worked the make the scene as safe as possible. Howard Twp Fire Department was assisted at the scene by five other fire departments, Cassopolis, Niles Twp. Edwardsburg, Pokagon Twp, and Clay Twp Indiana. The Michigan State Police Niles Post assisted as well as the Michigan Department of Transportation with Road Closures.

At the time of this release, 10:12am, emergency personnel were still working at unloading the tanker of its load of gasoline. After that is completed they will then work on the removal of the semi-tanker trailer from scene. It is expected that this process could take several hours and the road will remained closed until the scene is cleared and considered safe.


Richard J. Behnke
Undersheriff
Cass County Office of Sheriff