Motorcyclist dies in Cass County

A Dowagiac man died Monday after the motorcycle he was driving left the road at a high rate of speed and crashed into a tree in Cass County’s Pokagon Township.

Sheriff Richard Behnke said the driver fled from officers with the Dowagiac Police Department, who called off their pursuit of the motorcycle due to the speed at which the motorcycle was being driven.

Shortly before 3 p.m., Cass County Central Dispatch received several calls regarding a motorcycle that crashed off M-51 near Pokagon Street.

Witnesses reported that the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed and increased acceleration around a curve.

The driver, identified as 32-year-old Ryan Grady, lost control of the motorcycle at the curve and it crashed into several trees.

Grady was pronounced deceased at the scene; he was wearing a helmet.