Jimmy Cunningham Jr. dies in fatal Berrien County chain-reaction crash
Fatal Berrien County chain-reaction crash death of Jimmy Cunningham Jr. – Obituary
Jimmy Cunningham Jr., 58, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was tragically killed in a multi-vehicle crash early Friday, December 13, on northbound I-196 near Hagar Shore Road in Berrien County, Michigan.
Authorities reported that the crash involved a Dodge pickup pulling a camper trailer, a Chevrolet Equinox driven by Cunningham, and a Kenworth semitruck hauling two trailers of gravel. The incident began when the Dodge truck, driven by a North Carolina man, swerved to avoid a vehicle passing on the left. The evasive action caused the Dodge to hit a guardrail and jackknife, blocking the roadway.
Cunningham, driving a Chevrolet Equinox, attempted to avoid the stopped Dodge but struck it and then collided with the guardrail. Shortly afterward, a semitruck hauling 160,000 pounds of gravel struck the Equinox, causing a chain-reaction crash. The semitruck veered toward the median, spilling its load when one of its trailers overturned.
Cunningham was found unresponsive and pinned inside his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Western Michigan School of Medicine for an autopsy.
The vehicle that initially caused the Dodge to swerve has not been identified. Investigators are urging anyone with information about the crash to contact the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office at 269-983-3060 or 269-983-7141, Ext. 7224.
The crash remains under investigation, with authorities confirming that road conditions and alcohol or drugs were not contributing factors.
