nilesbuch

(7-29-18) The Berrien County Sheriff ’s Office patrol deputy who was in Niles last night,  observed a 1999 Subaru that matched the description of a possible intoxicated driver. That is when he attempted to make a traffic stop, that is when the driver fled from the scene at a high rate of speed.

The deputy continued to pursue the vehicle out of Niles onto west-bound Niles Buchanan Rd. and would sideswipe a vehicle. The chase would continue with the driver making several erratic driving maneuvers and speeds that exceeded 100 miles per hour.
The driver of the Subaru ultimately lost control of the vehicle on west-Bound Niles-Buchanan Rd. west of Mayflower Rd., the vehicle than left the north side of the roadway and struck a tree causing major damage to the vehicle at 5:30pm. The Deputy did not have sight of the Subaru at the time of the crash and the deputy only observed the dust cloud caused by the vehicle leaving the roadway and striking the tree.
The driver of the vehicle, David Lee Bross Jr.  (24) of  Berrien County, was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, by SMACAS Ambulance personnel, where he was later declared deceased. An autopsy will be performed Monday July 30, 2018.

The Berrien County Sheriff ’s Office requested the assistance of the Michigan State Police in conducting the accident reconstruction portion of this incident.
In addition to the Michigan State Police, the Berrien County Sheriff ’s Office was also assisted at the scene by the Niles City Police Department and the Niles Township Fire Department.
The Deputy, whose name has not been released, has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is normal procedures, pending the outcome of the investigation.

After the investigation is complete it will be forwarded to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for review, which is customary on these types of investigations.