Travis Bell sentenced to 6 years in crash that killed Grand Forks girl

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Nearly two years after a deadly crash on Highway 2 near the Grand Forks Airport, Travis Bell heard from the family he forever changed and learned how long he’ll spend in prison.

Bell, 45, of Fordville, pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide and injury for the June 2024 crash. Investigators say he had been drinking, was about 20 miles over the speed limit, eating and looking at his phone when he rear-ended Nicole Louthain’s SUV at a red light near the airport.

Nicole was seriously hurt. Her 6-year-old daughter, Katarina, died in the hospital. Her husband Robert serves at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Family shares impact of loss

“I could not help her. I could not reach her. That moment replays in my dreams and it follows me to my waking hours. It shapes how I sleep how I think how I function and how I exist in the world,” Nicole Louthain said.

“When my wife miraculously lived and held our only child with me listening to her precious heartbeat fade into silence, Mr. Bell walked free from custody and went home to reassure his family that he was ok,” Robert Louthain said.

Four victim impact statements were given, including from Robert and Nicole. Forty-six people wrote letters supporting Bell’s character and asking for leniency.

“I’ve had two years to think about all the things I could say. There’s no words of mine that will make this day or that day go away. Time heals. I’m truly sorry for the loss I have caused,” Bell said.

Judge issues maximum sentence

Judge Theodore Sandberg rejected a shorter term and gave Bell the maximum under his plea deal: six years in prison, three years supervised probation and two years in a sobriety program.

“When we were speaking about this upcoming sentencing and this plea agreement that called for the potential of 3-6 years, I remember Robert saying I hope he gets the six years so that he can see how short of a period of time that is. I thought wow that’s perspective. 6 years might seem like a lot of Mr. Bell, but it was a short period of time in the life of a child,” Sandberg said.

The Louthains say no sentence can match their loss. But they’re using this case to push for tougher DUI laws in North Dakota in Katarina’s name.