BENZIE COUNTY — Deputies say a crash in Benzie County that injured members of the Charlevoix varsity golf team was caused by a man on the run from Antrim County.
Police say the man from Cedar in Leelanau County assaulted a woman and stole her vehicle and was on the run from Antrim County.
After the Benzie County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen SUV, the car failed to stop and crashed into a van carrying the golf team.
We spoke with Colbye Oneil, the father of the woman who says she was assaulted by a 32-year-old Leelanau County man.
Oneil said they have been searching for three days after the suspect was accused of assaulting his daughter and stealing her vehicle.
He said he thanks the community for helping locate the man.
“I can only speak personally on my behalf. I mean, my daughter’s been traumatized obviously.”
We are told a 32-year-old Cedar male was traveling westbound on M-115 while being chased by Benzie County Deputies. He swerved into the centerline and crashed into a vehicle carrying the Charlevoix High School Varsity Golf Team.
The events leading up to it started several days ago, after police say the man assaulted a young woman and stole her vehicle.
“She’s been through a big ordeal of this event. For me as a parent, I am very much concerned for her and her safety, wanting to see this man brought to justice,” Oneil said. “There are a thousand thoughts that run through a father’s head. I just try to maintain a calm demeanor.”
According to Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller, the driver of the van tried to escape the SUV.
“This is such a tragedy. And from what I have gathered, the driver of the van attempted to get out of the way, unfortunately, with a guardrail right there. They were unable to move fully off the road there, off the road as far as they could when they were struck. But it’s very important that everyone’s aware of their surroundings in this situation. It sounds like it was unavoidable.”
“That stretch of roadway we’ve had we’ve had a lot of tragedy on this road. Oneil took to Facebook to ask for help from the community. Asking anyone with information to reach out. Now he says they wouldn’t have located the man without help.
“I can say that it was overwhelming. And, I’m very, very appreciative of everybody who had some prayers that were diligently sending in any information or any information that they could. I was informed of five different addresses that it could be…
I can’t say that those that would have happened without the outreach of people, and their support.”
The message Oneil wants to spread to any victim is not to stay silent.
“Don’t think that it’s your fault. You are the victim in these situations. And you are allowed to and should seek your justice.”
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene and all passengers in the van were taken to the hospital.
Oneil said he thanks the community for their support and sends his prayers for the victims in the crash.