By Staff
BERTRAND TOWNSHIP – Troopers with the Michigan State Police are investigating a Wednesday morning traffic accident on U.S. 12 that killed a 19-year-old Sawyer man.
A press release from the Michigan State Police Niles Post 53 stated the crash occurred at about 6:41 a.m. on U.S. 12 about two-tenths of a mile east of Bakertown Road in Bertrand Township, Berrien County. U.S. 12 was closed for four hours between Redbud Trail and Bakertown Road as a result of the accident.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash – two passenger cars traveling eastbound and a semi tractor-trailer heading west. According to the release, a BMW driven by Thomas Hennessee, 19, of Sawyer, was eastbound and was followed by a Honda sedan. Hennessee lost control of his car while heading up hill, crossed the centerline and struck the left front of the tractor, the release stated. The BMW was then pushed back into the eastbound lane and was struck by the Honda.
Hennessee was pronounced dead at the scene, the release stated.
The driver of the semi, Carl Beachy, 56, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was not injured, and the driver of the Honda, Amber Rounay, 21, of Galien, was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.
Assisting troopers at the scene were the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, Bertrand Township Fire Department and the Michigan Department of Transportation.