The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office discovered what turned out to be a fatal motor vehicle accident early Saturday (3/30) morning on County Road M47, on the south edge of Irwin.  A 2003 Ford Taurus was found on it’s top in the ditch at approximately 2:45am.

Upon further inspection by the Deputy a single occupant was found behind the wheel.  The Irwin Fire Department and Defiance Fire Department were then called to the scene and extricated the driver who was identified as 21-year-old Tanner Merz of Falls City, NE.  He was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The investigation into the accident determined Merz was traveling north bound and lost control of the vehicle which entered the north ditch and came to rest on its top.  The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation at this time.