Benzonia Car Accident Kills Two

The Record Eagle has reported ...  BENZONIA — A Benzie County man could face 15 years in prison for an alcohol-related car crash that killed his second cousin and injured two others.

Benzie County Sheriff's officials allege Dennis Bradley Fox, 23, was driving four passengers home from Elberta's Cabbage Shed Waterfront Pub around 2:15 a.m. Sunday when he allegedly struck a utility pole and rolled a car on River Road near Adams Road in Crystal Lake Township.

"I know that they had been partying for quite a while and they were heading home,” Detective Tom Whale said. "It was heavy rain at the time of the accident. I think it was a combination of speed and alcohol.”

See related items:

• Woman, 22, killed in Benzie County crash - April 2, 2007

Three backseat passengers in the car, including Fox's cousin, Nichole Lee Smith, 22, of Traverse City, weren't wearing seat belts and were thrown from the car, Whale said.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. Fox's twin brother, Daniel J. Fox, 23, of Interlochen and Kacie M. Bailey, 21, of Honor, were seriously injured and were taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment, Whale said. .. more here.

Benzie Accident

A car accident in Benzie County led sheriff's officials to a stash of chemicals used to process methamphetamine. Benzie officials responded to a single-car accident on Lobb Road in Crystal Lake Township just before 4 p.m. Wednesday to find the car had left the roadway and traveled through residential yards before crashing into a maintenance shed. Police say the driver was found at the scene unhurt, but was soon found to be under the influence of methamphetamine and was arrested. A canine search of the driver's vehicle found the drug and ingredients to produce more.