One person is dead in a two-car accident at M-140 and Dean’s Hill Road in Berrien Center Friday.
The Berrien County Sheriff Department responded to a two-car personal injury accident that occurred at 4:25 p.m.
A small passenger vehicle traveling east on Dean’s Hill Road failed to yield at the intersection of Dean’s Hill Road and M-140, resulting in the southbound vehicle traveling on M-140 to collide with the eastbound vehicle.
The eastbound vehicle driver, Esperanza Alvarez-Muniz, 41, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The eastbound passenger, her mother, Lidia Duran, had incapacitating injuries and was transported to Lakeland Community Hospital emergency room in Niles.
The southbound driver was identified as 49-year-old Frank Simko of Berrien Center; he was not injured.
Berrien County Sheriff Accident Reconstruction, Eau Claire/Berrien Township Fire Department, Eau Claire Police Department, Medic 1 Ambulance and Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service also responded to the scene.

College mourns Esperanza

Alvarez-Muniz, assistant dean of women for Lamson Hall and a beloved mentor, friend and colleague to those who knew her.
Esperanza, 41, was driving with her mother, Lidia Duran, Friday around 4:30 p.m., to go pick grapes in the countryside when the crash occurred.
Esperanza died at the scene. Her mother, Lidia, received non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
A memorial has been set-up in the hallway leading from the main Lamson Hall lobby. A gathering of support and prayer service is planned for 6 p.m. on Sunday in the Lamson Hall Chapel. All students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend.
Funeral arrangements are pending.