CASS COUNTY, MI – A 42-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle crash Monday evening near the intersection of US-12 and M-217 in Porter Township, according to Sheriff Clint Roach.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene at approximately 6:02 p.m. on October 27, 2025.
The investigation determined that James Hettmansperger of Vandalia was driving a Jeep Liberty eastbound on US-12 when he lost control, crossed the centerline, and struck the rear end of a westbound GMC Sierra pickup and trailer. The GMC was being driven by 44-year-old Brett White of Elkhart, Indiana.
The Jeep collided with the front of the trailer before veering off the roadway and coming to rest near a utility pole. Emergency crews from SEPSA Ambulance and SEPSA Fire Department attempted life-saving measures, but Hettmansperger was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Both drivers were reportedly wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
