At approximately 1:50 am on December 24th, an NDHP patrol vehicle was struck eastbound on I-94
near MM 236, two miles west of Cleveland, ND, in Stutsman County. The patrol vehicle was a 2021
Ford Utility Police Interceptor (Explorer).
The NDHP Trooper was investigating a crash in the median involving two commercial motor vehicles
at the above location. The trooper was parked on the inside (median) shoulder with emergency lights
flashing, providing traffic control as lane one (passing lane) of the eastbound roadway was blocked
from the crash.
The trooper had exited his vehicle when a third commercial motor vehicle (CMV) approached, jack
knifed and struck the patrol vehicle. The patrol vehicle was pushed into the median, where it became
disabled. The CMV overturned and came to rest in the south ditch.
No individuals were injured in any of these crashes. The NDHP trooper was not struck during the
incident.
The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, Medina Ambulance, Medina Fire Department, Jamestown
Ambulance and NDDOT responded to assist at this incident.
Rain had fallen and the roadway had a thin layer of ice built up. The CMV’s were all traveling too fast
for conditions, which was the contributing factor in the incident.
Attached to this email are pictures of the damaged patrol car.
The crashes remain under investigation. Eastbound I-94 was closed for approximately two hours
during the incident.
