Full Notification

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that on 9/21/2018 at approximately 0142 hours, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the 54000 block of M 51 North, Dowagiac, MI in Wayne Township for a two car personal injury accident. Deputies arrived on scene and located both vehicles with heavy front end damage. Initial investigation shows that the driver of a Dodge van was driving north bound on M 51 when they got into a head on collision with a Mitsubishi car that was driving southbound. The driver of the Mitsubishi was identified as Cody Lee Jenkins, 35 years old from Decatur, MI. The driver of the Dodge Van was identified as Marie Nicole Daisy, 42 years old of Hartford, MI.

Daisy was transported by Pride Care Ambulance to Borgess Lee Memorial in Dowagiac where she was then brought by AirCare to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Jenkins was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Deputies were assisted by Pokagon Tribal Police, Dowagiac Police Department, Wayne Township Fire Department, Dowagiac City Fire Department, PrideCare Ambulance, AirCare, and Trues Towing.

Alcohol and drug use may be a factor in this accident and remains under investigation. The driver of the Dodge Van was wearing a seatbelt, and the driver of the Mitsubishi was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.