BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — A 22-year-old Marshall man is dead from either police gunshots or a serious crash shortly after midnight.
Shortly before midnight, Battle Creek Police attempted to stop a vehicle that was driving recklessly near Dickman Road and M-66, swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic, and the officers suspected that the driver could be drunk. The driver didn't stop, however, and led officers on a chase southbound on M-66 and then westbound on Interstate 94.
Speeds exceeded 90 mph.
The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office joined in the pursuit, which continued on Columbia Avenue, Skyline Drive and Logistics Drive, where the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a wooded area.
Three officers approached on foot and the vehicle suddenly began driving toward them. All three fired gunshots into the vehicle, which then struck a Battle Creek Police Department cruiser, extensively damaging it, and then crashed again in the wooded area of the Fort Custer Industrial Park at 12:15 a.m. Saturday.
BCPD said it's unclear how many shots were fired and whether any of them hit the vehicle's driver.
The officers, LifeCare Ambulance and the Battle Creek Fire Department all provided emergency care to the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Battle Creek officers and Calhoun County sheriff's deputy all were placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation by the Michigan State Police.
