The Dowagiac Department of Public Safety is investigating a hit and run crash that occurred on Tuesday. The department has released the following:
On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at approximately 1:30 PM, Dowagiac Police were dispatched to the scene of a personal injury traffic crash on W. High St. near S. Lowe St. in Dowagiac. Upon arrival officers located one vehicle on its side with two occupants inside.
Officers were advised that the driver of the second vehicle had fled the scene after the crash. Officers searched the area and were able to locate that driver a few blocks from the scene. He was taken into custody at that time. Both occupants of the vehicle were extricated from the vehicle by the Dowagiac Fire Department.
The investigation revealed that both vehicles were travelling east on W. High St. The rear vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed and passed the slower vehicle hitting it as it did so. This caused the slower vehicle to flip and strike a utility pole shearing it at the base.
The driver of the slower vehicle, Frank Fowlkes, 74, of Dowagiac was transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital by Pride Ambulance. He was later released with minor injuries. The passenger, Danny Whitmyer, 59, of Dowagiac, was checked and refused treatment at the scene.
Dowagiac Police arrested a 37 year old male suspect from Decatur for Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash, Reckless Driving, and Driving with a Revoked License. The suspect was medically cleared at Ascension Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital and was lodged at the Cass County Jail on the above charges. All charges are pending authorization from the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. The name of the suspect is being withheld until his arraignment. It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this crash and is currently under investigation.
Dowagiac Police were assisted by Dowagiac Fire Department, Wayne Township Fire Department, Silver Creek Township Police, Pride Ambulance, and SMACAS Ambulance. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Dowagiac Police Department at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at (800) 462-9328.
