A Mishawaka man lost his life in a chain-reaction crash on I-196 in Berrien County near Coloma. It happened on Friday morning, Dec. 13.

According to investigators, a vehicle swerved toward a northbound pickup truck towing a camper. The pickup driver swerved to avoid a collision but lost control, causing the truck and camper to hit a guardrail, jackknife, and block both lanes.

A second vehicle, driven by 58-year-old Jimmy Cunningham Jr., swerved to avoid the crash but struck the pickup truck and hit the guardrail. His SUV came to rest on the shoulder.

Shortly after, a semi-tractor carrying two trailers filled with gravel also tried to avoid hitting the pickup but struck the SUV.

Police found Cunningham, dead, inside his SUV.

The vehicle that initially swerved remains unidentified.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about the crash to contact the Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch at 269-983-3060, or the Berrien County Sheriff’s Detective Bureau at 269-983-7141 Ext 7224.