By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
WAVERLY TWP. – A 33-year-old Mattawan man has been arrested in connection with the death of a 28-year-old Decatur woman. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office said the man intentionally hit the woman with a pickup truck early Saturday morning, Dec. 23, then drove into a Waverly Township home.
Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott reported that Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 46000 block of County Road 665 around 2:45 a.m. Saturday, for a report that a male subject had intentionally hit a female with a truck and drove it into a house. Upon arrival, deputies located the 33-year-old suspect who was still at the scene. The 28-year-old Decatur woman, who was seriously injured, according to deputies, was lying in the yard. The suspect was immediately detained and medical assistance was provided to the female. Van Buren Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and transported the female to the hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries.
A second victim, a 28-year-old Paw Paw man, was also struck by the truck and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Sheriff Abbott said the initial investigation revealed that the suspect arrived at the residence looking for his girlfriend, however, she was not there. An altercation took place between the two victims and the suspect in the driveway of the residence. The suspect then intentionally struck both subjects with his truck, leaving the female mortally injured in the yard. The male victim tried to escape into the residence after being hit the first time and the suspect crashed his truck into the residence trying to hit him again. Deputies said the truck became disabled and the suspect remained at the scene. When the suspect was taken into custody, there was methamphetamine located on his person. He admitted to using methamphetamine prior to coming to the residence.
The suspect was arrested and transported to the Van Buren County Jail.
The investigation is still ongoing, according to Sheriff Abbott.
Saturday, October 05, 2024
