What: Four vehicle fatal crash
Where: Hwy. 13 MM 379, 1/3 mile west of I-29
When: March 13th, 2023 @ approximately 5:48 am
Road Conditions: Ice and snow covered road
Type of Crash: Right angle and side swipe Agencies Involved: NDHP, Richland County SO, Mooreton FD, Breckenridge/Wahpeton Ambulance
Vehicle No. 1: 2019 Ford F150
Driver No. 1: Wade Mund, 50 YOA, Wahpeton, ND - minor injuries
Restraints: Restrained
Charges: On-going investigation
Vehicle No. 2: 1995 Chevrolet Silverado
Driver No. 2: Unoccupied
Restraints: N/A
Charges: N/A
Vehicle No. 3: 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Driver No. 3: No driver present
Passenger No. 3 Corey Myers, West Fargo, ND – serious injuries - unrestrained
Charges: N/A
Vehicle No. 4: 2020 GMC Sierra
Driver No. 4: Parker Busse, 27 YOA male, Lisbon, ND – not injured
Restraints: Restrained
Charges: None
Pedestrian No. 1: 45 YOA male, Wahpeton, ND - deceased
Pedestrian No. 2: 51 YOA male, Mantador, ND - deceased
NARRATIVE: The Chevrolet Malibu had been westbound on Hwy. 13, lost control and became stuck in snow drifts that were along the westbound shoulder. The Chevrolet Silverado came upon the Chevrolet Malibu and located two occupants in the Malibu. The driver of the Silverado parked his vehicle perpendicular across the roadway, facing south. The 51 YOA male driver of the Silverado had exited his truck and was beginning the process of attaching a tow strap to the Malibu.
The 45 YOA male driver of the Malibu had also exited his vehicle and was assisting with the tow strap process. While this was on-going, the Ford F150 was westbound on Hwy. 13 and approached the Silverado and Malibu. This area is not lighted, and it was dark at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Ford did not immediately recognize the vehicles across the roadway. When the Ford neared the Silverado, the driver of the Ford recognized the Silverado was in the roadway and swerved right. The Ford struck the Silverado, both pedestrians and the Malibu. The Ford continued west on Hwy. 13 and side swiped the GMC Sierra.
The Ford came to rest in the eastbound lane, facing east. The Silverado came to rest across the east and westbound roadways facing northeast. The Malibu came to rest along the westbound shoulder and westbound roadway facing south. The GMC entered the south ditch and came to rest in the ditch facing east. All vehicles remained upright.
The two pedestrians had been drivers of the Silverado and Malibu. The 51 YOA male pedestrian had been driving the Silverado. The 45 YOA male had been driving the Malibu. Both were pronounced deceased on scene.
A passenger in the Chevrolet Malibu, Corey Myers, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported by Sanford LifeFlight to Sanford Hospital in Fargo. The driver of the Ford F150, Wade Mund, was transported by Breckenridge/Wahpeton Ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Breckenridge and was treated and released.
Hwy. 13 was closed between I-29 and Mooreton for approximately four hours during the investigation. This crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
