BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. (WSBT) — A motorcycle accident in New Buffalo Township has resulted in the death of a 45-year-old man.
Emergency responders arrived at U.S. 12 and Lubke Road around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday to a multi-vehicle collision.
First responders discovered the motorcycle had been rear-ended, leaving the rider with life-threatening injuries. The man, a resident of Niles, was transported to a hospital in Michigan City but later succumbed to severe head trauma.
Authorities have not released the victim’s name, pending notification of next of kin.
According to witnesses, the motorcycle was nearly stopped and signaling left to turn onto Lubke Road when it was struck by a westbound minivan driven by a 39-year-old woman from Missouri. This impact ejected the motorcyclist and caused the minivan driver to lose control, subsequently crossing the center line and colliding with another vehicle.
The minivan driver sustained minor injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene; the driver of the third vehicle was uninjured.
Authorities noted the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet, and drugs or alcohol are not suspected to have contributed to the crash. The incident remains under investigation.