Sheriff arrested on drunk driving, weapons charges after crash

SCHOOLCRAFT TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A Michigan sheriff is facing charges after allegedly rear-ending another driver early Sunday.

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St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was accused of rear-ending another driver while heading south on U.S. 131 at approximately 2:18 a.m., police told WWMT.

In a news release, the Michigan State Police said that troopers from the Paw Paw post responded to the crash, which was caused when a Chevrolet Traverse hit a Nissan Rogue, causing both drivers to lose control and the vehicles to leave the roadway.

State police described the driver of the Chevrolet as showing signs of intoxication from alcohol. Troopers administered field sobriety tests and arrested the driver on suspicion of OWI.

The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver of the Chevrolet as Lillywhite and said that he was released from jail at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, WOOD-TV reported.

State police said that witnesses reported the Chevrolet did not have its headlights on prior to the collision.

Lillywhite was also charged with possession of a firearm while intoxicated, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office told WWMT.

“Michigan State Police are continuing their investigation of this case,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting told WWMT. “That includes the testing of seized evidence, which could take several days. Once that has been completed, the case will be submitted for review by the Prosecutor’s Office.”