Another deadly crash on dangerous Berrien County road

BERRIEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Neighbors want something done after another deadly accident happened along a stretch of Old US-31 in Berrien County Thursday morning.

“In my lifetime I’ve seen at least four or five people die on this corner,” said Whitney Marcelo, who was woken up by Thursday’s crash while housesitting for her uncle.

The crash happened just after 7 a.m. at the intersection of Old US-31 and Deans Hill Road in Berrien Township.  

Police say a driver traveling northbound on Old US-31 hit a man as he crossed the street.

“With the snow and the hill, it’s hard to see coming around this corner,” Marcelo said. “It just makes – all of it together makes for a very bad combination for drivers.”

Police said the victim was 52-year-old Lee Hauweghen of Hartford, Michigan. He died from his injuries at the hospital.

A 60-year-old Niles man was driving the car that hit him.

The driver told police he tried to dodge the victim, but ran out of time. The driver did stay at the crash scene.

Marcelo, who has lived in nearby Berrien Springs her entire life, said a stop sign or stop light along this part of Old US-31 could make a difference.

“I really feel like the city should try to do something here because, like I said, with the visibility and the traffic and the speed limit through here, something needs to happen,” she said.

Police said Thursday that speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash.

ABC57 reported on another deadly accident at the same intersection just over a year ago.