North Dakota

Cass County deputy disciplined after not helping seconds before deadly crash

Published

1 year ago

June 22, 2023

Press Room

Cass County deputy disciplined after not helping seconds before deadly crash

FARGO — A Cass County sheriff’s deputy was punished for

not helping a semi

stopped along Interstate 94 near Mapleton, North Dakota, seconds before another truck slammed into it,

causing a fiery crash that killed a man.

Sheriff Jesse Jahner suspended Deputy Jolene Fletcher on May 17 for four days without pay for not stopping to check on Yuhai Zhu, 53, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, on March 15.

Moments after the deputy passed Zhu’s semi, Randall Buxton, 72, of New Westminster, British Columbia, crashed his semi into the back of Zhu’s rig about 2 miles west of Mapleton.

Jahner declined to comment since the criminal case against Zhu remains open. The Forum’s attempts to reach Fletcher were unsuccessful.

The crash set the two semis ablaze and killed Buxton. Zhu is facing negligent homicide and reckless endangerment charges after North Dakota troopers alleged he stopped his vehicle in the right lane of the interstate’s westbound side.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Capt. Bryan Niewind said Zhu

didn’t experience a mechanical issue

that would have forced him to stop. Zhu had time to pull over to the side, and he didn’t take proper measures to warn others he had stopped, such as setting up emergency triangles, state troopers said.

Zhu has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Documents detailing the internal investigation into Fletcher said she passed Zhu’s semi without stopping. Cass County Sheriff’s Office policy says on-duty deputies who see disabled vehicles along the road “should make a reasonable effort to provide assistance.”

Fletcher wasn’t assigned to a patrol shift when she passed Zhu, though she was in uniform and driving a marked patrol vehicle, the investigative report said. She was on her way to Flasher, North Dakota, to pick up a community outreach therapy K9, a trip Jahner approved, according to the report.

Fletcher, a 13-year vet of the sheriff’s office, said she had worked 17 ½ hours the day before the crash, that she was tired and didn’t remember passing Zhu’s vehicle, the report said. She also said she was unaware of the semi stopped on the interstate.

Dispatchers received a call about Zhu’s semi stopping in the road about two minutes before the crash, Niewind said Wednesday in Cass County District Court. Video showed Fletcher driving past the semi about 45 seconds before the collision, according to the internal investigative report.

“Even if Deputy Fletcher had noticed the vehicle and that it was stopped in the driving lane, I do not know that Deputy Fletcher would have had enough time to try and intervene,” Jahner said in his report.

The report noted that witnesses said they didn’t notice the semi was stopped until they were near it. If Fletcher had noticed the stopped semi, she would have had to drive to the next exit and turn around to drive back to it, the report said. She also could have called dispatchers to see if anyone was nearby, the report said.

Backing up along the shoulder or ditch, which was full of snow, or backing down the passing lane were not safe options, Jahner said in the report.

“I do not believe 45 seconds would have been enough time to conduct any of these responses,” Jahner said in the report.

Still, Jahner wrote that he expected Fletcher to “make every attempt to help however she could” after the crash. He determined the deputy was negligent in her duties.

Along with the four-day suspension, Fletcher lost her take-home vehicle privilege and was suspended from secondary job duties until at least June 30. She also was ordered to conduct a two-week ride-along evaluation.

April Baumgarten joined The Forum in February 2019 as an investigative reporter. She grew up on a ranch 10 miles southeast of Belfield, N.D., where her family raises Hereford cattle. She double majored in communications and history/political science at the University of Jamestown, N.D.

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North Dakota

The most deadly time to drive is between Memorial Day and Labor Day

Published

52 mins ago

July 21, 2024

Press Room

The most deadly time to drive is between Memorial Day and Labor Day

NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — The hundred-day span between Memorial Day and Labor Day is marked as the most deadly period on the road here in North Dakota.

According to the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s 2022 crash summary report, fatal crashes are twice as likely during this time.

That’s why North Dakota leaders are urging drivers to not fall into a “false sense of security” during the bright and cheery days of summer.

According to Travel and Leisure, North Dakota has been marked as the state with the most reckless drivers.

There’s a range of reasons for this from drunk driving to speeding. But another reason is that when the snow clears, North Dakota drivers are eager to get out more and drive faster than they would in the snow, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division director.

And because North Dakota has some of the lowest citation fees in the nation, ranging from $5 to $100, the Highway Patrol’s safety and education officer says that drivers aren’t given enough deterrents to drive safely.

However, with growing concerns about safety, there could be talk of increasing citation amounts in coming legislative sessions.

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North Dakota

NDGF taking proactive measures to prevent aquatic nuisance species from spreading

Published

8 hours ago

July 20, 2024

Press Room

NDGF taking proactive measures to prevent aquatic nuisance species from spreading

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Aquatic nuisance species are nonnative plants, animals and pathogens that can threaten our aquatic resources. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is taking proactive measures to stop the spread of ANS into our waterbodies by conducting watercraft inspections at popular boat ramps statewide.

“We got watercraft inspectors that are working throughout this summer around the state of North Dakota to check boats, to educate boat owners to do the right things at ramps, make sure boats are all clean, drain, dry before recreating here,” said Ben Holen, NDGF Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator.

What can anglers or watercraft recreationists expect when they come to an ANS inspection?

“A watercraft inspector will ask a few questions, only takes a couple minutes, and then they look at the hull of the boat. They’re looking at the engine area, looking at the anchor and also looking at all drain compartments, making sure all water is out of that watercraft. Everything is drained. Everything is cleaned, drained, dry before you get on that water body,” said Holen.

These watercraft inspections are voluntary and most people are cooperative and thankful the Game and Fish Department is spearheading efforts to stop the spread of ANS.

“We see a lot of our fishermen are really educated about aquatic nuisance species. They’re pulling their plugs every time, removing vegetation, doing the right things. Occasionally there are slip-ups, but that’s why our inspectors are out here making sure that those boats are good to go,” said Holen.

It’s not only fishing boats that are inspected, it’s all watercraft.

“So whether you’re a jet skier, a kayak, a canoer, a wakeboarder, you all play a part in curbing the spread of aquatic nuisance species in North Dakota,” said Holen.

The purpose of these inspections is to educate the public so they can help curb the spread of ANS.

“We can’t be at every ramp, every single circumstance, so hopefully some of these recreationists can take the tools that they learn from watercraft inspectors and apply them on their own when they’re out there recreating on their own and do a self-inspection,” said Holen.

The Game and Fish Department is committed to safeguarding our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

“So we really, really like to keep it that way and keep these resources pristine for a long time,” said Holen.

For more information on Aquatic Nuisance Species, visit gf.nd.gov

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North Dakota

How gas prices have changed in North Dakota in the last week – 7/19/2024

Published

15 hours ago

July 20, 2024

Press Room

How gas prices have changed in North Dakota in the last week – 7/19/2024

STACKER — The typically busy summer driving season tends to lead to more demand for gasoline and, in turn, higher prices at the pump. But that hasn’t happened this summer, and analysts aren’t sure of the reason.

“[Drivers] appear to be staying off the road, and the recent scorching heat is possibly to blame. Maybe things will pick up soon,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement Thursday, adding that prices could dip even lower.

Prices are several cents above their levels a month ago, but a gallon of gas is still cheaper than it was this same time last summer. The U.S. has been producing a large amount of gasoline to bolster domestic supply, another factor that can push prices downward. The total amount of gasoline in the U.S. supply is slightly above the five-year average, according to Energy Information Administration data.

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in North Dakota. Gas prices are as of July 19.

North Dakota by the numbers
– Gas current price: $3.39
– Week change: $0.00 (0.0%)
– Year change: -$0.08 (-2.3%)
– Historical expensive gas price: $4.80 (6/15/22)

– Diesel current price: $3.65
– Week change: -$0.01 (-0.2%)
– Year change: -$0.13 (-3.3%)
– Historical expensive diesel price: $5.62 (6/25/22)

Metros with most expensive gas in North Dakota
#1. Minot: $3.48
#2. Bismarck: $3.48
#3. Grand Forks (ND only): $3.27
#4. Fargo-Moorhead (ND only): $3.24

States with the most expensive gas
#1. California: $4.72
#2. Hawaii: $4.70
#3. Washington: $4.27

States with the least expensive gas
#1. Mississippi: $3.00
#2. Louisiana: $3.10
#3. Texas: $3.12

This article originally appeared on Stacker, and was produced and distributed through a partnership with Stacker Studio. It has been republished pursuant to a CC by NC 4.0 License.

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