A 25-year-old woman adn a 5-year-old girl from Watford City died Sunday morning in a collision south of town,authorities said. The crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 85 and 23rd Street Northwest and prompted a medical helicopter to transport the injured driver of the Ford Fusion to a Bismarck hospital.
The tragedy underscores the dangers present at rural intersections in western North Dakota, where increased traffic from oil industry activity intersects with local roadways. The North Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating potential contributing factors and weather charges will be filed against either driver. The incident has deeply impacted the Watford City community, and the investigation’s outcome will be closely watched by residents concerned about road safety.
According to the highway Patrol, the crash happened around 8:30 a.m. A 2013 Ford Fusion was traveling south on Highway 85 when it was struck by a 2006 Peterbilt truck pulling a trailer. The Peterbilt, heading east on 23rd Street Northwest, failed to yield at the posted stop sign, resulting in a T-bone collision.
Both vehicles came to rest in the southeast ditch. the front-seat and rear-seat passengers of the Ford Fusion – the 25-year-old woman and 5-year-old girl - were pronounced dead at the scene. The 24-year-old male driver of the Ford was airlifted to a Bismarck hospital with serious injuries.The driver of the Peterbilt, a 41-year-old man from Bybee, Tennessee, sustained no injuries. Authorities confirmed that all occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision, and potential charges against both drivers are pending the outcome of the investigation.
