Probe continues into fatal crash

By VICTOR SKINNER
vskinner@record-eagle.com

September 01, 2007 04:00 am

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BELLAIRE -- Charlevoix resident Eric Perrine was driving normally, in legal fashion, but didn't attempt to stop his motorcycle before he slammed into a truck just outside Bellaire, witness Bill Drollinger said.

Drollinger, a Bellaire police officer, said his in-car camera captured the two-vehicle crash that left Perrine, 31, dead at the intersection of Derenzy and Eddy School roads just after midnight Aug. 18.

"It looked like the truck pulled in front of the motorcycle. I am assuming that based on my speed that (Perrine) wasn't exceeding 60 (mph)," Drollinger said. "I didn't see the motorcyclist hit his brakes. The video didn't show that from what I could see."

Antrim County sheriff's officials continue to investigate but have released few details on the crash. Undersheriff Dan Bean said Thursday "the guy that made the left turn out of Eddy School Road was at fault."

Authorities believe Russell Steven Mitchell, 19, was driving a truck west on Eddy School Road when he stopped at the stop sign at Derenzy Road. Mitchell allegedly turned south across Perrine's lane as he was driving north on Derenzy road heading out of Bellaire, authorities said.

Bean said sheriff's investigators worked with state police to reconstruct the crash scene and are awaiting blood test results for both Perrine and Mitchell before forwarding reports to the county prosecutor.

Bean said alcohol was involved in the crash, but would not elaborate. He said he was unaware that Perrine had drug convictions in 1999 and 2003 and was unsure if drugs played a role in the crash.

Antrim County Prosecutor Charles Koop said he has received Drollinger's report, but has few details on the crash.

"I do know they gave a preliminary breath test to Mitchell," he said, adding that he was unsure of the test results. "I believe there was a passenger (in the truck), but I haven't actually seen the reports."

Bean did not return multiple messages seeking confirmation that a passenger was in the truck. A passenger was not mentioned in official statements released following the crash.

Koop said he plans to ask for a special prosecutor to handle any possible criminal charges "because I have known (Mitchell's) father for longer than I have been prosecutor."

Perrine's family did not return messages for comment.