St. Joseph County Police were dispatched at approximately 6:20 p.m. Saturday evening to a report of single vehicle crash on Quince Road, north of Darden. Officers arrived to find an SUV engulfed in flames after leaving the roadway in a curve and striking a tree. A witness on scene stated that the vehicle was traveling northbound on Quince and left the roadway in the curve striking a tree head-on and immediately igniting a fire. Bystanders on scene attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle but were unable before the fire engulfed the vehicle. The driver was killed in the crash.
The driver has been identified as Jeffery Allen Young, age 33 of South Bend. Young’s family have been notified. Speed is initially believed to be a primary factor in the crash, toxicology tests are pending. County Police traffic investigators are handling the investigation.