A three-vehicle property crash occurred approximately 8 miles east of Watford City on Highway 23 near mile marker 12 on March 26 at approximately 8 a.m.
A 2019 Ford F-250 driven by Todd Kemper, Highlands, TX, was driving east on Highway 23 when the F-250 broke down leaving the enclosed trailer it was pulling just into the lane of travel. A 2024 Ram 2500 driven by Patrick Bartley, Huffman, TX, stopped to assist Kemper. Both the 2019 Ford F-250 and 2024 Ram 2500 had their hazard lights activated. Kemper, his passenger, Dakota Griffin, Pasadena, TX, and Bartley were in the process of setting up traffic cones. A 2011 Kenworth Semi pulling a side dump trailer was being driven by Hamady Dia, West Fargo, ND. The Kenworth was eastbound on Highway 23. The Kenworth attempted to avoid the Ram 2500 which was on the shoulder with its hazard lights on. The side dump trailer struck the Ram 2500. The Kenworth attempted to get back into the eastbound lane of Highway 23, when it then struck the enclosed trailer attached to the F-250. Kemper, Griffin, and Bartley saw the Kenworth approaching, and exited the shoulder of the roadway, and entered the ditch prior to the collision. Dia was not injured.
The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office re-routed traffic as a result of the crash. Highway 23 was closed for approximately one hour before one lane was opened at 9 am. The highway was fully cleared and opened back up by 1:05 p.m.
Assisting with the accident were the North Dakota Highway Patrol, McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, Keene Fire and Rescue, and the Watford City Ambulance Service.
The crash remains under investigation by the NDHP.
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