St. Joseph teen dies in two-car accident near Dowagiac

A teenager from Saint Joseph died in a two-car accident near Dowagiac this morning, the Cass County Sheriff's Office reports in a news release. Johnathon Russell, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say Russell failed to stop at the stop sign on Peavine Street in LaGrange Township at 8:05 a.m. The car he was driving collided with a car driven by Brian Wood, 58 years old, of Marcellus, who was traveling southbound on Dailey Road. The vehicles slid into a ditch. Wood was transported to Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Seat belts were used, alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the wreck, police say. The accident remains under investigation.