VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich.- Friends and family are already expressing their sorrow for two young sisters on Facebook, Wednesday, one day after Van Buren county deputies say a Ford F-150 pick-up slammed into the vehicle they were riding in Tuesday evening.
Cassadi Berryhill, 4, and her sister, Kandice, 2, died in the crash. Both were from South Haven. The driver, Brittney King, 24, of Bangor, also died in the crash. The young girls’ father, Justin Berryhill, was also a passenger in the vehicle. He is listed in stable condition at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
According to deputies on scene, the pick-up driver attempted to pass a vehicle on County Road 388 in Van Buren county and slammed into the four, head-on.
Detectives have yet to release the name of that driver, pending charges, but say he is a 32-year-old man from Alabama. Deputies say he admitted to drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel. He has a prior conviction for operating under the influence of liquor and one prior conviction for operating while impaired by liquor. Deputies also say the driver currently has a suspended driver’s license and has seven prior convictions for DWLS.
Authorities do not believe the two toddlers were in car seats. They are unsure as to whether any of the adults were wearing seat belts.
The driver of the vehicle the pick-up truck was attempting to pass before the crash was not hurt. Kathy Fuentes, 38, of South Haven did not want to appear on camera, but says she has been upset since learning of the deaths. Fuentes says her own five year-old and 15 year-old daughters were in the car with her Tuesday evening and were not hurt.
“I know I was lucky,” said Fuentes. “But, I wish the mother who lost those two children was lucky as well.”
