Former Kalamazoo principal injured, daughter killed in Berrien County motorcycle crash

A former Kalamazoo Public Schools principal at the center of a federal lawsuit was hurt in a motorcycle crash Wednesday, according to Michigan State Police. Aaron Sauter, 43, the former principal of Milwood Middle School, was riding with his 12-year-old daughter on westbound I-94 in Bridgman when his motorcycle hit a semi-truck. Sauter's daughter was thrown from the motorcycle and then was hit by the semi-truck, troopers said. She died at the scene. Kalamazoo County: sheriff's deputy shot by suspect who stole, crashed cruiser The 43-year-old was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. "Both occupants of the motorcycle were wearing helmets, and the semi-truck driver was wearing a seat belt," troopers said Friday. "Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash." Sauter is alleged to have coerced a former teacher, whose identity is being kept anonymous, into having sex with him inside the school in 2024. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of grooming and abuse of power by Sauter that started in 2023. Cyclosporiasis: Michigan surpasses 5,000 cyclosporiasis cases as CDC identifies outbreak source It also alleges he used his position of power to get her a promotion within the district, and then made sexual advances towards her that led to the two having sex in his office repeatedly.