Four people were killed Friday in southern Michigan as powerful storms that produced at least two tornadoes reduced homes to rubble, sent parts of roofs flying into the air and left a trail of debris hanging from power lines.

In the Union Lake area, near Union City, three people were killed and 12 were injured after an apparent tornado hit, according to the Branch County Sheriff’s Office.

[caption id="attachment_127920" align="alignright" width="700"] The hardest hit area was Prairie Rose Lane on the north side of Union Lake, Michigan. National Weather Service photo by 517 Drone Video and Photography.[/caption]

About 50 miles to the southwest, Cass County officials reported one death and several injuries after a tornado touched down.

Lisa Piper stood on her back deck near Union Lake and videoed a terrifying scene that played out on the other side of frozen Union Lake as a funnel cloud formed and then dropped toward the ground. Trees were torn from their roots and debris flew into the air.

“It’s lifting houses!” she said. As the devastation continued, she exclaimed, “Oh my heart is pounding. Oh, I hope they’re OK.”

Powerful storms formed Friday from Michigan all the way to Oklahoma, with reports of heavy rain and threats of severe thunderstorms. Tornado watches stretched from Iowa to Oklahoma, along with Michigan.

At least one tornado has been confirmed in southern Michigan, near Union City, on Friday, according to the National Weather Service, and there were reports of possible others.

Heavy storm damage was also seen in southwest Michigan, where Cass County declared a local state of emergency Friday evening following a tornado and severe storms that hit the area earlier in the day.

Jones said local resources are being utilized to their fullest extent and that additional assistance may be required to clear debris and support affected residents.

Cass County Emergency Manager Manny DeLaRosa confirmed that multiple large structures — including homes and pole barns — suffered damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction, according to a report from WNDU.

Numerous trees have also fallen onto roads and buildings.

[caption id="attachment_127910" align="aligncenter" width="838"] This photo was taken in Three Rivers, Mich., on Friday. Related storms killed four people. AP Photo.[/caption]

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FULTON COUNTY – The semi driver accused of causing a crash that killed four people earlier this week in Jay County was handed over Thursday to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Authorities say 30-year-old Bekzhan Beishekeev, who resides in Pennsylvania, swerved into the opposing lanes of traffic on SR 67 to avoid slowed traffic ahead and struck a van on Tuesday, killing four people.

According to the Jay County Sheriff’s Office, Beishekeev was arrested through a bench warrant, meaning that his charges weren’t related to the crash. A bench warrant is used for individuals who fail to comply with certain court-ordered measures, usually in another county or state.

Beishekeev was then picked up by Indiana State Police on an immigration warrant on Wednesday and was turned over to federal authorities Thursday morning. Beishekeev, who is from Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, was then taken into custody by ICE.

As of Thursday evening, he was being held in the Fulton County Jail, where ICE is holding detainees.

The US Department of Homeland Security issued a news release on the case.

DHS confirmed that Beishekeev entered the U.S. using the Biden administration’s CBP One app. He was then issued a commercial driver’s license in Pennsylvania.

Beishekeev will remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings, DHS said Thursday.

DHS said the case is the latest in a “disturbing pattern” of commercial drivers who are in the country illegally, “directly threatening public safety and resulting in senseless loss of life.”

In October, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reported there were more than 140 truck drivers arrested in Indiana during Operation Midway Blitz, which targeted people with illegal status. DHS specifically named three instances in the last few months, one involving Akhror Bozorov, who was arrested by ICE in November. He was wanted in his home country of Uzbekistan for belonging to a terrorist organization.

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