Police find Van Buren County man in frigid creek

A 59-year-old man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo late Saturday night after police found him unresponsive, partially lying in frigid creek water off 26th avenue in Bangor Township. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department was called to the 59000 block of 26th Avenue at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. There, deputies found the unresponsive man, near his pickup truck that had crashed into a ravine. The man was first treated at South Haven Community Hospital for head trauma and exposure to extreme cold temperatures and water. Police believe alcohol was a factor in the accident and the sheriff’s department news release stated charges would likely be filed with the prosecutor’s office. Police determined the man first drove another vehicle off the property’s driveway, getting it stuck in snow. He then drove his pickup truck down the driveway, failed to negotiate a sharp bend in the drive and crashed in the ravine. No information was available early Sunday morning from Bronson hospital on the man's condition. Police did not release his name.