Authorities: Man, 21, run over by car

PIPESTONE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Authorities in Berrien County are investigating the death of a young man who they say was run over with a car.

The body of 21-year-old Tyler James Carr of Watervliet was found on Sunday morning at about 9:20 a.m., according to the Berrien County Sheriff's Office.

The body was lying in a field behind a residence about 200 yards away from the road in the 2500 block of Fairview Road in Pipestone Township.

A forensic autopsy conducted Monday at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids revealed that Carr suffered a torn aorta caused by injuries to his chest and ribs.

Authorities said that those injuries indicate that Carr was run over by a vehicle.

A party had taken place at the residence behind which Carr was found on Saturday night, the sheriff's office said, and about 25 to 50 young adults were there.

The Berrien County Homicide Task Force and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force were called in to interview the attendees of the party and investigate.

Crime scene technicians from the s heriff's office, the Michigan State Police, and the Coloma Township Police Department assisted in collecting evidence from the scene.

The investigation showed that a large fight broke out during that party, but there it does not appear that Carr was involved.

Authorities also found that Carr was likely hit by the vehicle before the fight broke out.

The Berrien County Undersheriff Charles Heit told 24 Hour News 8 that the death is not being classified as a homicide.

Investigators from the sheriff's office worked with the county Homicide Task Force and State Police Crime Lab to identify the vehicle and driver involved in the death.

On March 29, authorities said that evidence led them to a vehicle they believe was involved in the incident.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call the Berrien County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at 269.983.7141 ext. 7275.