dutch9277
07-27-2005, 17:33
Mattawan police officer dies, another injured, following high-speed chase
(Update, Van Buren County, July 27, 2005, 6:18 p.m.) A Mattawan police officer has died and another was hospitalized after crashing their vehicle during a high-speed chase.
Police received calls of a vehicle passing on both shoulders of I-94. When a police cruiser caught up with the vehicle, a chase ensued.
The accident happened just after 9 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Red Arrow Highway and 24th Street, just north of Mattawan. That's when their cruiser skidded off the road and smashed into a tree trunk with the back of the car.
When Terri McLean pulled up to the scene, she had no idea she'd be doing double duty. As an emergency medical technician, it was her job to treat the two officers. "It was not a pretty sight," McLean said. As village president, it's also her job to speak for this city in mourning.
Both officers were taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Twenty-one-year-old Scot Beyerstedt died Tuesday afternoon from his injuries. Twenty-nine-year-old Scott Hutchins was taken to the hospital, and was released late Wednesday afternoon.
An accident expert says Beyerstedt was driving 90 miles an hour - this on a twisty-turny road - with a speed limit of 20.
Officers are, of course, trained to handle high speeds, but accidents still happen. A State Police accident reconstruction expert says Beyerstedt wasn't wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. That may or may not have made a difference, given the force of the crash.
Beyerstedt officially joined the Mattawan police force just two weeks ago. But he had been riding along with the other officers, working for free for months.
His dedication is one more reason he'll be so sorely missed. "Scott was enthusiastic," said Mattawan Police Officer David Ostrem.
Beyerstedt donated his organs. Friends say it's proof of his willingness to help the community.
Hutchins has been with the Mattawan Police Department for seven years.
The crash could make it hard for the town to cope. The officers account for two of the city's five full-time police officers. Five part-timers round out the force.
But in the tiny town of Mattawan, they're not thinking about the accident...they're remembering a young man who gave his life serving his community. "The mood is somber," said McLean.
Police are still looking for the car that the officers were pursuing, as well as its driver. The vehicle is a blue Ford Escort with Michigan license plate YYE 329. A check of the plates show they don't belong to the car they were on or the person to whom it's registered.
If you have any information about this incident you're asked to call the Michigan State Police in Paw Paw at (269) 657-5551, the Mattawan Police Department at (269) 668-3661, or the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department at (269) 657-3101.
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3641729&nav=0Rceca7Z
This is the 2nd MI officer killed in the LOD due to a chase in the last 10 days.
(Update, Van Buren County, July 27, 2005, 6:18 p.m.) A Mattawan police officer has died and another was hospitalized after crashing their vehicle during a high-speed chase.
Police received calls of a vehicle passing on both shoulders of I-94. When a police cruiser caught up with the vehicle, a chase ensued.
The accident happened just after 9 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Red Arrow Highway and 24th Street, just north of Mattawan. That's when their cruiser skidded off the road and smashed into a tree trunk with the back of the car.
When Terri McLean pulled up to the scene, she had no idea she'd be doing double duty. As an emergency medical technician, it was her job to treat the two officers. "It was not a pretty sight," McLean said. As village president, it's also her job to speak for this city in mourning.
Both officers were taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Twenty-one-year-old Scot Beyerstedt died Tuesday afternoon from his injuries. Twenty-nine-year-old Scott Hutchins was taken to the hospital, and was released late Wednesday afternoon.
An accident expert says Beyerstedt was driving 90 miles an hour - this on a twisty-turny road - with a speed limit of 20.
Officers are, of course, trained to handle high speeds, but accidents still happen. A State Police accident reconstruction expert says Beyerstedt wasn't wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. That may or may not have made a difference, given the force of the crash.
Beyerstedt officially joined the Mattawan police force just two weeks ago. But he had been riding along with the other officers, working for free for months.
His dedication is one more reason he'll be so sorely missed. "Scott was enthusiastic," said Mattawan Police Officer David Ostrem.
Beyerstedt donated his organs. Friends say it's proof of his willingness to help the community.
Hutchins has been with the Mattawan Police Department for seven years.
The crash could make it hard for the town to cope. The officers account for two of the city's five full-time police officers. Five part-timers round out the force.
But in the tiny town of Mattawan, they're not thinking about the accident...they're remembering a young man who gave his life serving his community. "The mood is somber," said McLean.
Police are still looking for the car that the officers were pursuing, as well as its driver. The vehicle is a blue Ford Escort with Michigan license plate YYE 329. A check of the plates show they don't belong to the car they were on or the person to whom it's registered.
If you have any information about this incident you're asked to call the Michigan State Police in Paw Paw at (269) 657-5551, the Mattawan Police Department at (269) 668-3661, or the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department at (269) 657-3101.
http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3641729&nav=0Rceca7Z
This is the 2nd MI officer killed in the LOD due to a chase in the last 10 days.