A southwestern Michigan police chief has died after his vehicle left an area roadway and crashed into a tree.

Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Sgt. Craig Schmaltz says 59-year-old Nashville Police Chief Chris Allen Koster died in the crash about 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Richland Township.

The investigation found that Koster’s vehicle was heading northbound on North 32nd Street and went off the roadway, striking a tree just north of E B Avenue. No other passengers were in Koster's vehicle at the time of the crash, and police say alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

The 59 year old Nashville, Michigan police chief was a resident of Plainwell.

Nashville is a village of about 1,600 people in Barry County. Nashville Village President Mike Kenyon said Koster was police chief for about five years. He says the crash appeared to happen while Koster was driving to work.

Nashville’s village offices closed Thursday once officials were notified of Koster’s death and are expected to reopen Friday, Kenyon said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office at 269-383-8748 or the Silent Observer Program at 269-343-2100.

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