Fatal Crash I-94 Near Watervliet

PERSON MAKING RELEASE: Lt. Josh Sutherland                  

DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT:   09/02/2026 at 1024 hours 

TYPE OF INCIDENT:   Fatal Crash                           

LOCATION OF INCIDENT:   I 94 east bound at the 40.5 mile marker in Watervliet Twp. Berrien County Michigan.               

AGENCIES INVOLVED: Berrien County Sheriff Road Patrol, Berrien County Accident Investigation Team, Watervliet City Police, Coloma Twp Police, Berrien County Hazmat Team, Watervliet fire Department,

MSP Motor Carrier unit, Medic 1 Ambulance , North Berrien Fire Department. 

BERRIEN COUNTY SHERIFF

PRESS RELEASE

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NARRATIVE: On 09/02/2026 the Berrien County Sheriff office responded to a crash involving a rolled over semi-truck that was partly in the median and blocking both lanes of travel east bound at the 40.5 mile marker. When Deputies arrived on scene the cab of the semi-truck was on fire and fully engulfed in flames.

The driver of the truck was a 22 year old male out of Chicago Illinois. The driver did not escape the cab of the truck and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The truck was hauling bottled water and no hazardous materials.

I94 east bound between the 39 and 41 mile marker was closed for approximately 7 hours.

This crash remains under investigation by the Berrien County Sheriff Accident investigation team.