Fatality crash closes stretch of ND Highway 52

Update:  Hwy 52 is back open (2:50 p.m.)

A head-on crash involving three vehicles south of Carpio (ND) early this morning (1:00 a.m.) has claimed the life of one of the drivers.  No names have been released.  Here’s the full text of the description of the accident by the NDHP

NDHP:

The GMC was traveling south on Hwy 52 and was following the Ford. The
Volvo was traveling north on Hwy 52. The GMC started to pass the Ford and struck the Volvo
head-on. The Ford was struck by debris from the other vehicles. The GMC came to rest in the
southbound lane and started on fire, which was later extinguished by firefighters. The Volvo
overturned onto the driver’s side and came to rest on the northbound lane sticking partially
into the east ditch. The Ford ran off the roadway into the west ditch and came to rest on its
wheels facing south. The driver of the GMC sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced
deceased on scene. The driver and passenger of the Volvo sustain non-life threatening injuries
and were transported to Trinity hospital by ambulance. The driver of the Ford was not injured.
The Volvo was hauling bulk containers of a diesel-based substance which leaked onto the
roadway and into the ditches. The spill will require extensive clean up. Hwy 52 in closed from
Carpio to the Hwy 2/Hwy 52 split west of Minot until the clean up is complete. Signage has
been placed by NDDOT at the closure sites that include messaging for alternative routes.
This crash remains under investigation by the NDHP.