NEW BUFFALO TOWNSHIP – A three-car crash left multiple people injured and one person dead Saturday afternoon in New Buffalo Township, according to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

At 3:53 p.m., officers were dispatched to an injury accident on M-239 just south of Wilson Road.  According to police, a Honda CRV crossed the centerline of M239 and struck two vehicles.  The first vehicle that was struck, a Nissan Rogue, had minor damage and there were no injuries in this vehicle.  The second vehicle, a Toyota Sequoia, was struck head on. Both the CRV and the Sequoia had heavy front end damage.

The driver of the Honda CRV was Sabrina Stewart, 21, of LaPorte. The driver of the Toyota Sequoia was Jose Flores, 40, of Elkhart. Stewart and Flores were both stable and were treated for injuries. There were four passengers in the Toyota Sequoia. One passenger has died from his injuries, and three others are in critical condition, police said.  The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of the family. 

The New Buffalo Township Fire Department assisted with extrication of victims from the Toyota Sequoia.  All injured people were taken to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Agencies that responded to the scene included the New Buffalo Township Patrol, Pokagon Tribal Police, New Buffalo City Police Department, Michiana Police Department, New Buffalo Township Fire Department, Medic 1 Ambulance, Three Oaks Ambulance and Laporte County EMS. 

Police said the accident is still under investigation. The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Accident Investigation Team was called to the scene and will be assisting with the investigation.