Twin sisters bound over in traffic death of John Dolegowski

Catherine Bender, 45, the Hopkins Township woman charged with driving with a suspended license causing death in a traffic crash that killed John Dolegowski, 58, of Watson Township, has been bound over to Allegan County Circuit Court.

Her twin sister, Nancy Lynn Ferrier of Wayland, also was bound over on a charge of allowing someone on a suspended license to drive her car.

Dolegowski was killed Dec. 16 when the truck he was driving was struck by Bender’s car near the intersection of 130th Avenue and 22nd Street in Hopkins Township. Authorities assert Bender didn’t stop at a stop sign while driving west on 130th Avenue and drove into the path of the Dolegowski’s pickup. Dolegowski, who was not wearing his seat belt, later died at a Grand Rapids hospital. Bender also was hospitalized after the crash.

Bender waived her preliminary hearing March 2, in which  prosecutors would have had to prove there was enough evidence she committed a crime. She was bound over by Judge Joseph S. Skocelas.

Ferrier on Feb. 18 waived her right to a hearing.

PHOTOS: Catherine Bender   Nancy Ferrier