KALAMAZOO COUNTY (WWJ) - A Michigan State Police report about crash involving a sheriff out in West Michigan concluded he did not try to stop when he collided into another vehicle almost 100 mph — all while intoxicated.
In documents obtained by the Kalamazoo Gazette/MLive, troopers with the Michigan State Police said St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, 47, was drunk and behind the wheel of a county-issued SUV on Feb. 26 when he allegedly caused the crash on southbound U.S. 131 near YZ Avenue in Kalamazoo County around 2:20 a.m.
Troopers said Lillywhite was driivng at speeds of 96 to 99 mph when he rear-ended another driver going the 55 mph speed limit.
According to the report, the SUV's computer software showed that the front seatbelts were not in use at the time of the crash and Lillywhite did not attempt to break for the other vehicle before slamming into it at full speed, spending both vehicles off the road.
Deputies with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office were the first to arrive at the scene, but once they realized Lillywhite was a sheriff, they requested the investigation be handled by MSP due to a possible conflict of interest, the report stated.
In body cam footage of the incident, deputies did not appear to approach or engage with Lillywhite until troopers arrived.
The man driving the vehicle that Lillywhite rear-ended told authorities in the report that he didn't see headlights prior to being hit, only that he “suddenly felt a vehicle crash into them from the rear."
The victim's vehicle rolled once from the force of the crash while Lillywhite's SUV rolled over a number of times.
As reported by Mlive, body cam footage from authorities at the scene showed Lillywhite was carrying a number of weapons in the vehicle and troopers found his St. Joseph County Sheriff’s badge.
In the MSP report, a loaded pistol was recovered from the center console and both a rifle and a pistol with magazines were found in Lillywhite's trunk.
Troopers noted the sheriff had bloodshot eyes, was slurring his words and was staggering while trying to walk. A trooper said in the report that they could smell alcohol when they opened the door to Lillywhite's SUV.
According to the report, Lillywhite refused a preliminary breath test at 3:15 a.m. saying, "Nope" when asked.
The sheriff was taken to a local hospital where a blood draw to test for alcohol was preformed. Troopers said he was booked into the Kalamazoo County Jail the same morning, but was released later on.
A woman who stopped at the scene to help later told troopers that she tried to speak to Lillywhite immediately after the crash, but he was "trashed" and "he kept rocking back and forth and was slurring his speech."
As stated in the report, South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Shawn Westfall -- one of the first responders to get to the crash that morning -- confirmed Lillywhite had not been hurt, but said the sheriff moved from the driver's seat to the passenger side.
The chief said there was not another person inside of Lillywhite's SUV and he did not see anyone leave from the vehicle. According to the MSP report, witnesses at scene corroborated Westfall's statement and also said they did not see anyone near the vehicle.
When asked about the crash, Lillywhite told troopers multiple times he didn't know what happened.
“I don’t know, all I know is I went in the ditch and I don’t got no clue," he stated per the report.
The trooper said in the reported that he asked Lillywhite what happened after he rolled into the ditch.
"“Lillywhite responded, ‘No I wasn’t driving,’ even though I did not ask him that question," the trooper stated.
Lillywhite faces multiple potential charges in connection to the incident, which could include operating while intoxicated, possession of firearms while under the influence and reckless driving.
The case yet to presented to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office for review, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Williams told Mlive.