Sturgis woman died in Mendon crash

A 20-year-old Sturgis woman died last week in a two-vehicle accident in Mendon Township.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Julia Zimmerman died at the scene of the accident, which occurred at 11:40 a.m. Friday on Silver Street, near the intersection of Hampton Road.

Investigators said the front, driver’s side tire of a Jeep Wrangler came off the vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Carlos Montoya of Sturgis. Zimmerman was driving a southbound vehicle behind Montoya’s Jeep.

Deputies said the Jeep’s tire continued into the northbound lane, causing the driver of a northbound box truck to lose control and cross into oncoming traffic. The truck, driven by 56-year-old Michael Butcher of Plainwell, struck the vehicle driven by Zimmerman.

Montoya was not injured and Butcher was treated at the scene.