One vehicle accident near the intersection of Pucker St. and Smith Rd

On 4/1/14 at approximately 01:49hrs, Deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a one vehicle accident near the intersection of Pucker St. and Smith Rd. in the Township of Berrien.

Upon arrival at the scene, the officers determined that a 1978 Ford Pick-up was traveling north-bound on Pucker St. at a high rate of speed, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle then went off the roadway and struck a tree. When the officers and first responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Carley Jean Hartman, Female, age 19, from the Berrien Springs area, who was a passenger in this vehicle was “deceased”. Further investigation at the scene by the Deputies resulted in the Deputies locating a 20 year old male wandering around the area with visible injuries. The Deputies were then able to determine that the 20 year old male was the driver of this vehicle at the time of the accident. The 20 year old male was transported to Lakeland Hospital in Saint Joseph for treatment of his non-life threatening injuries. The 20 year old male was also placed under arrest by Deputies from the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office and charges will be sought through the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office on a charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicants causing Death. The name of the suspect will be released at a later date.This accident remains under investigation by the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and at this point in the investigation in appears as speed and alcohol were contributing factors.