(3-27-24) On Tuesday March 27, 2024 emergency responders were dispatched to an unknown injury traffic crash involving a single vehicle that had struck a power pole.  Upon arrival, police found a silver Buick occupied by a male driver who was unresponsive.  Fire personnel were able to use the Jaws of Life extrication tools to access the driver’s door of the vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, Deputies and Medic were able to determine that the driver had suffered fatal injuries during the crash.

 Crash investigators were able to locate roadway evidence and witnesses to the crash and determined that the driver, Darrell Pargo Jr, (33) of Benton Harbor had passed several cars heading westbound on E. Britian Ave and as he was completing the pass and getting back into his lane, lost control and spun out of control, striking a telephone pole. The Buick then spun into another telephone pole with the driver’s side of the vehicle causing the pole to snap in half and sending the vehicle airborne landing on its passenger side before coming to rest on its wheels.

    Investigators determined that no other vehicles were involved in the crash and speed was a factor.  It is unknown at this time if drugs or alcohol are involved.

 The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office is investigating this crash as the Benton Harbor Dept of Public Safety patrol units were tied up with an Officer Involved shooting incident that had occurred a short time prior to this crash. 

  AEP units were still on scene late this afternoon replacing the power pole and lines so power could be restored to the surrounding neighborhood.