CONSTANTINE, MI (WTVB) – A Mendon woman was killed Thursday morning when her 2007 Jeep Liberty went off of Constantine Road and plunged into the Fawn River.
St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite says 60-year-old Barbara Melinda Phillips lost her life in the crash which was reported at 7:12 a.m. just north of Mintdale Road.
Deputies arrived to find the vehicle off of the bridge and upside down in the river, completely submerged in about seven feet of water.
Constantine fire personnel donned Mustang suits and attempted to rescue the driver. She was found and removed from the vehicle.
Phillips was transported by Life Care ambulance to Three Rivers Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The Sheriff’s Department says Phillips was traveling north on Constantine Road when for an unknown reason her vehicle veered off the road to the left and hit the bridge retaining wall.
The vehicle then overturned and landed on its roof in the Fawn River. At this time it is unknown what caused the vehicle to leave the road.
The crash remains under investigation. Assisting at the scene were the Constantine Police and Fire Departments, Michigan State Police, White Pigeon Firefighters, Life Care Ambulance and Shears Wrecker.
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