(8-15-20) Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputies were on a traffic stop on M139 near Empire in Benton Twp.

The Deputies who were inside their patrol vehicle when a car came up from behind them, slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt almost hitting the marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights activated. The Deputies exited the vehicle and told the driver to stop. The driver (suspect is a 40 year old male from Benton Harbor) then fled the area.

Pine St

Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle refused to stop and continued to flee. The vehicle then ran the stoplight at Main Street and Pine, but lost control on Pine St. The suspect vehicle then hit parked vehicles in a driveway and the suspect vehicle then hit a tree in the 200 block of Pine.

Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety had to assist in extrication of the suspect. The suspect was then taken by Medic 1 ambulance to Spectrum Lakeland Health in St. Joseph.

The traffic crash is still under investigation and alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash.