(MASON TOWNSHIP) – One person is dead following a two state chase that ended in a crash in Cass County’s Mason Township.

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke says his department received a message just after 12 AM Sunday from the Nappanee Indiana Police that they were chasing a stolen vehicle from Elkhart County into Michigan. Nappanee Police ended the pursuit when they lost sight of the stolen vehicle.

A short time later, a resident who lives on Old 205 notified authorities that a vehicle crashed into a tree near Cassopolis Road. Deputies arrived and found a passenger, 49 year old Adrian Smith of Elkhart, dead from his injuries. The driver ran away from the scene.

A K-9 unit from the Michigan State Police responded and after a short track, found a male suspect and took him into custody.

Smith was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. It’s believed that drugs were a factor in the crash.

Assisting at the scene were the Edwardsburg Police and the SEPSA Fire Authority. The incident remains under investigation.