Cass County, MI (May 26, 2026) – A 24-year-old Benton Harbor man died after a vehicle struck him while he was walking on M-152 at Pleasant St in Silver Creek Township on Sunday, May 24, at 9:49 a.m. Timothy Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver did not stop and had not been located as of this report.
The crash took place in the Dowagiac area of Cass County, approximately 45 miles west of Kalamazoo. No further details about the vehicle involved in the accident were available at the time of publication.
The search for the driver responsible for the fatal collision is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact local law enforcement. We extend our sincere condolences to Timothy Johnson’s family and all those who knew him.
What Typically Happens After a Fatal Pedestrian Hit-and-Run in Michigan?
When a driver flees after striking a pedestrian, investigators face additional challenges beyond a standard fatal crash inquiry. Without the vehicle present, much of the early work focuses on gathering physical evidence from the road: paint transfers, debris, tire marks, and any fragments left at the point of contact. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and residential doorbell systems can also be valuable in identifying the vehicle.
Witness accounts are another key source of information in these cases, especially on roads where other drivers or nearby residents may have seen something. Hit-and-run fatalities carry serious criminal penalties in Michigan, including potential charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The longer a vehicle goes unlocated, the more critical early tips and physical evidence become to building a case.
