2 cars crash, 4 hurt;driver runs, found

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - A driver fled the scene of a two-vehicle crash that resulted in four other people being injured, but was found hours later at his parents' house.

Around 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, the driver of a westbound van stopped at the intersection of 24th Street and Country Club Road in Holland, but then proceeded into the path of a southbound car, police said in a news release.

The vehicles collided, the van overturned and the car went off the side of the road.

Sgt. Jeff Velthouse of the Holland Department of Public Safety said alcohol may be a factor in the crash, as they found beer bottles in the van driven by Shane Benedict, who ran from the scene before police arrived.

Two other people in the van -- rear-seat passenger 37-year-old Mike Sosa from Spring Lake and front-seat passenger 27-year-old Alicea Dieppa from Wyoming -- were transported to Holland Hospital after suffering broken bones. Rescue personnel extricated one of these passengers from the van.

The driver of the car -- 19-year-old Ashley Charles from Fennville -- suffered head injuries. Her passenger was 20-year-old Justin Torres from Holland. Both were taken to the hospital.

All of the injuries are non-life-threatening.

Tuesday afternoon, police said Benedict, 26, was found at his parents' home in Allegan County. He cooperated with police and provided a statement. He was released pending charges from the Ottawa County prosecutor.

Anyone with additional information about this incident or the whereabouts of Benedict is asked to call 911 or the Holland Department of Public Safety at 616. 355.1100, email investigators at policetips@cityofholland.com, or call Silent Observer at 1.877.887.4536.

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Editor's note -- The Holland Department of Public Safety sent several news releases; there was conflicting and erroneous information regarding the victims in the original release; as of this writing this is the most-up-to-date information