1 dead after police pursuit – driver ID released (new)

NDHP releases name of deceased driver and passenger:

31 year old Randy Cole  / driver / no permanent address

24 year old Elena Fladeland / passenger / no permanent address

Update 5:50 PM

Authorities say a man fleeing police in a stolen car on Interstate 29 died in head-on collision with a semi-trailer in a construction zone south of Hillsboro. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a woman in the stolen car was injured. The semi driver, 24-year-old Amirtpal Singh, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was treated and released at a local hospital. The chase began about 11 a.m. Wednesday when the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office located a stolen 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix traveling southbound on I-29 in the Thompson area. The patrol said speeds exceeded 100 mph. The 31-year-old driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. His 24-year-old passenger was transported to a Fargo hospital with serious injuries.

AP

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Update 5:30 PM

(ND Highway Patrol release:)

On May 19th, 2021, the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office located a stolen 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix traveling southbound on I-29 in the Thompson area. A Grand Forks County Deputy attempted to stop the stolen Pontiac and the driver fled that traffic stop

A pursuit was initiated by the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, southbound on I-29. When the pursuit entered Traill County, the Traill County Sheriff’s Office responded and set up spike strips near MM 105, north of Hillsboro on I-29.

The Pontiac drove over these spike strips, disabling two tires on the vehicle. The Pontiac continued to flee southbound on I-29, eventually entering a construction zone south of Hillsboro near MM 101.

This construction zone has I-29 north and southbound traffic traveling head to head in the southbound lanes of I-29.

The northbound lanes are under construction. Near MM 98, the Pontiac crossed the center line and struck the northbound Kenworth head on.

The collision caused the Kenworth to veer of the roadway to the right, with the Kenworth crossing the median and coming to rest, upright in the northbound lanes under construction.

The Pontiac came to rest across the southbound roadway, facing east, upright. The 31 YOA male driver of the Pontiac was pronounced dead on scene.

The 24 YOA female passenger in the Pontiac was transported to Sanford Hospital in Fargo for serious injuries.

Neither occupant was restrained.

The 24-year-old semi driver, Amirtpal Singh of Winnipeg, was transported to the Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

The Grand Forks Police Department is investigating the stolen vehicle incident involving the Pontiac.

The Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office initiated the pursuit and were the primary agency involved until the crash occurred.

The NDHP is investigating the fatal crash.

I-29 was closed for approximately 3 ½ hrs while the crash scene was investigated. Traffic was diverted at Exit 92 and 100 to Co. Rd. 81 to bypass the closed roadway. The crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol

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Update 4:30 PM

A male driver is dead after a police pursuit that began in Grand Forks County and ended in a head-on collision on I-29 south of Hillsboro.

According to the Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after 11:00 this (Wed) morning, deputies south of Thompson began pursuing a southbound vehicle that had just been reported stolen in Grand Forks.

The driver fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

Traill County deputies later used a device that deflated the vehicle’s front tires…but the vehicle continued to flee at high speeds.

It then entered a two-lane construction zone.. crossed the center line… and crashed into a northbound semi pulling a trailer.

Deputies tried to render aid to the two people in the first vehicle, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The female passenger was transported to a hospital with unknown injuries.

No word on whether the semi driver was hurt.

No names been released.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating.

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Original post:

One person is dead after a police pursuit that began in Grand Forks County and ended in a head-on collision on I-29 south of Hillsboro.

The collision, in a construction zone where traffic was head to head, took place late this (Wed) morning.

Officers were pursuing a car that had been reported as stolen.

State troopers and deputies from Grand Forks and Traill Counties have been on the scene … and traffic between Hillsboro and Grandin has been detoured to Hwy. 81.

(KFGO)