State police: Trooper was at fault in fatal DeWitt Twp. crash
Ken PalmerDeWITT TWP. - A Michigan State Police trooper was suspended Monday after a preliminary investigation showed he caused a fatal crash Friday night in Clinton County, officials said.
David G. Engel, 26, of DeWitt, was killed in the multi-vehicle crash, which happened about 8 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Business U.S. 127 and Cutler Road.
On Monday, state police said the trooper was the at-fault driver. He was suspended pending completion of the investigation and a review by the Clinton County Prosecutor's Office, they said.
The male trooper has been with the department for a year and a half, state police 1st Lt. Darren Green said. His name is not being released pending completion of the investigation, Green said.
The crash happened as the trooper was driving west on Cutler Road with his overhead lights and siren operating, en route to a retail theft call at the Meijer store in DeWitt Township, state police said.
The police cruiser struck the rear of a northbound semi truck, forcing the semi into Engel's vehicle, which was stopped in the southbound lanes as he waited to turn left onto Cutler, police said.
The trooper had minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured. Police have not released their names.
An accident reconstruction team was called in to study the crash.
Even when responding to emergencies or crimes in progress, police officers are obligated to drive in a way that doesn't endanger themselves or members of the public, Green said.
He said investigators will meet with prosecutors this week to provide the information they have. But it could be a week or two before prosecutors have enough information to decide on possible charges, he said.
"Because of the nature of this ..., if anything else, we're going to move in an expeditious manner to help bring closure for (Engel's) family," he said. "We want to let the family know we are taking this very seriously."
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Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.