One injured in crash west of Sykeston

A pickup collided with the rear of a semi-truck just under two miles west of Sykeston Sunday evening, Oct. 13, resulting in life-threatening injuries for the driver of the pickup.

Just before 7:30 p.m., CHI Carrington Ambulance was dispatched to the scene of the accident near mile marker 208, and Carrington Fire and Rescue also responded. Sykeston Fire Department and the Wells County Sheriff’s Department controlled traffic on scene.

The incident report from the North Dakota Highway Patrol said that 36-year-old Justin Bell of West Fargo was traveling westbound on Highway 52-200 just west of town when his 2019 Ford F-150 collided with a westbound 2004 Kenworth semi-truck pulling a grain trailer, which was driven by Dustin Duda, 45, of Cathay.

Duda’s semi was in the process of pulling into the driveway of the farm owned by Arlen and Charlotte Bachmeier, which sits on the north side of the highway, when his vehicle was rear-ended by Bell.

Bell’s pickup was totalled in the crash, which was estimated to have occurred at a very high level of speed. He was transported to CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center, and later life-flighted to Sanford Health in Fargo. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Charges pending against Bell include driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), as well as driving with a suspended license.

Duda was not injured in the crash, and no charges were filed against him. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of impact.

The incident remains under investigation by the N.D. Highway Patrol.