3 critical, 1 dead after New Buffalo Township accident

NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Officers with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal accident involving three vehicles Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 3:53 p.m., a crash with injuries was reported south of Wilson Road on M-239 in New Buffalo Township.

A Honda CRV, driven by 21-year-old Sabrina Stewart of LaPorte, Indiana crossed the center line on M-239 and struck a Nissan Rogue and a Toyota Sequoia, according to a press release.

The Nissan Rogue suffered minor damage and the Toyota Sequoia was struck head-on. Both the CRV and Sequoia sustained heavy front-end damage.

There were no reports of any injuries in the Nissan Rogue. Stewart was listed in stable condition and treated for injuries.

The New Buffalo Township Fire Department extricated the victims from the Toyota Sequoia.

According to the press release, the driver of the Toyota Sequoia, 40-year-old Jose Flores of Elkhart Indiana, is considered stable and is currently being treated for injuries. Three of the four passengers in Flores' vehicle were taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend and are listed in critical condition; one of those passengers has died.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of family.

The accident is under investigation by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Accident Investigation Team.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Medic 1 Ambulance, Berrien County Sheriff, New Buffalo Township Patrol, New Buffalo Township Fire Department, New Buffalo City Police Department, Michiana Police Department and Pokagon Tribal Police assisted at the scene.