6/04/2025

MARENISCO TOWNSHIP - The Marenisco Township man who was charged with three felonies in March for a crash that killed his passenger now faces an additional drunk driving felony charge.  Brian Berquist was arrested following a rollover crash March 26 on M-64 in Marenisco Township. Police say the front passenger, a 45-year-old Bessemer woman, was ejected from the vehicle and died on scene while Berquist and another passenger suffered minor injuries.  Berquist was first arraigned in Gogebic County District Court March 27 on three felonies: two counts of operating under the influence causing death and one count of manslaughter now Berquist faces an additional felony charge of operating with a high blood alcohol content, with a third offense felony notice.  Police say lab results received from the MSP crime lab revealed Berquist had a blood alcohol content of .20 at the time of the March 26 crash.  Following Berquist’s preliminary exam, he was bound over to Gogebic County Circuit Court on all four charges. He is scheduled for a circuit court arraignment on June 17.