Suspected Drunk Driving Crash in Cass County Leaves One Hospitalized
A suspected drunk driving crash early Tuesday morning has left one person in Cass County in the hospital. Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at around 12:15 the morning of Tuesday, May 26, 2026 to an accident at the intersection of US-12 and Eagle Lake Road in Ontwa Township.
According to authorities, early Tuesday morning 50-year-old Cindy Basil, from Granger, Indiana was traveling southbound and continued through the intersection without yielding. She collided with a westbound vehicle that had the right of way.
The driver of the westbound vehicle, a 38-year-old woman from Niles, was taken to the hospital for possible injuries.
The incident remains under investigation, but investigators believe that alcohol may have been a factor.
Michigan Drunk Driving Laws
Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is referred to as Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) under MCL 257.625, and can create both criminal and civil legal issues.
Under Michigan law, OWI can include operating while under the influence, operating with a BAC of .08 or higher, or operating with a BAC of .17 or higher, which carries enhanced consequences.
A driver below .08 may still face legal consequences if their ability to operate is visibly impaired. Michigan also has separate rules for drivers under 21 with bodily alcohol content.
The penalties for OWI can depend on many factors including whether it is the first offense, whether the driver has a high BAC or prior convictions, and whether people were injured or killed in a crash because of the impairment.
Penalties can increase sharply if the crash causes serious impairment of body function or death.
What No-Fault Benefits May Cover First
Michigan No-Fault personal protection (PIP) insurance may cover medical bills and certain economic losses regardless of who caused the crash.
PIP benefits are separate from the claim against the suspected drunk driver. Under MCL 500.3107, PIP may include allowable medical expenses, work loss, and replacement services, subject to the policy, coverage selections, priority rules, exclusions, and Michigan's No-Fault Act.
In many Michigan drunk driving crash cases, the first practical question is which insurer may be responsible for PIP benefits. That can depend on the injured person's policy, household coverage, vehicle status, priority rules, exclusions and other facts.
Michigan’s PIP coverage options are also addressed in MCL 500.3107c.
A separate injury claim may also be possible if the injured person meets Michigan’s no-fault tort threshold, such as death, serious impairment of body function, or permanent serious disfigurement.
For more on that issue, see our guide: Who Pays Medical Bills After a Michigan Car Accident? PIP Priority.
Get Help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and grieving families across Michigan with personal injury claims, no-fault claims, wrongful death cases, pedestrian crashes, hit-and-run claims, insurance disputes, and serious injury cases.
After a crash, our attorneys can review police reports, preserve evidence, identify available insurance, evaluate no-fault benefits, and determine whether a wrongful death claim may be available.
Call (248) 886-8650 or contact Michigan Legal Center for a free consultation.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.
Note
Our firm used outside sources when creating this post. We have not independently verified every fact regarding this accident. If you find information that is incorrect, contact Michigan Legal Center immediately so we can correct the post. This post can be removed upon request.
Disclaimer
This post is for general information only and is not legal or medical advice. If a photograph is used with this post, it was not taken at the actual accident scene unless specifically stated. This post is not a solicitation for business.