Cassopolis man dies in dune crash

GOLDEN TWP. — A sunny day at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes turned tragic Tuesday afternoon, June 16, when a 20-year-old Cassopolis man died in an ORV crash.

Evan James Niedzielski was pronounced dead at the scene after the 1989 yellow Suzuki 500 quad he was operating rolled over, throwing him from the vehicle. “Niedzielski had injuries to his head which were fatal,” states an accident report from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.

Silver Lake State Park Officers were also called to the scene of the crash, which occurred at 3:53 p.m.

Niedzielski was “up here with friends for a couple of days,” stated Lt. Craig Mast of OCSO.

“Niedzielski was traveling south in the south directional zone at the Silver Lake State Park ORV Area,” the report states. After cresting a hill, he lost control of his quad.

The report indicates that alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, and no other vehicles were involved. No other information was immediately available, and the crash remains under investigation.