Leonard  (NDHP) –   The North Dakota Highway Patrol Investigated a crash north of Leonard  at 9:30-p.m., Saturday.  The report says, seven people were injured in a two vehicle crash on North Dakota Highway 18 six miles north of Leonard.

A Jeep Grand Cherokee south bound on ND Highway 18 at mile marker 64 when a Dodge Caravan was northbound at the same location. A southbound motorist had stopped and was waiting to turn left onto a gravel road. The driver was distracted by his GPS and did not realize traffic had stopped in front of him. The driver drove into the northbound lane to avoid a rear end crash. The Dodge Caravan was north bound and the front passenger side bumper struck the Caravan’s front bumper. The Jeep entered the east ditch of Highway 18 and rolled, coming to rest on its passenger side.

The Dodge came to rest in the middle of the roadway. Both vehicles suffered heavy damage and were totaled in the collision. The juvenile passenger from the Caravan was extricated by Fire and Rescue and flown by Sanford AirMed to Sanford Hospital in Fargo. All occupants of the Jeep were taken by ambulance to Sanford Hospital in Fargo. None of the injuries appear to be life threatening. The crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP.) Details about the crash are attached below.

Agencies Involved: North Dakota Highway Patrol, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Casselton  Ambulance Service, Lisbon Ambulance Service, Casselton Fire Department, Leonard Fire  Department, and Sanford AirMed.


Vehicle No. 1: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Driver No. 1: Abraham Lara Cruz, 18-year-old male, Melrose, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed
Charges: Overtaking where prohibited, Failure to Maintain Control – Distracted Driving.

Passenger No. 1: Kevin Martinez, 18-year-old male, Melrose, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed

Passenger No. 2: Christopher Carillo Juarez, 18-year-old male, Melrose, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed

Passenger No. 3: Geraldo Chavez, 19-year-old male, Melrose, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed

Passenger No. 4: Brandon Montanez Garcia, 18-year-old male, Melrose, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed

Vehicle No. 2: 1996 Dodge Caravanx
Driver No. 2: Jaylin Parras, 18-year-old female, Georgetown, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn, airbags deployed
Charges: None

Passenger No. 1: 16-year-old juvenile female, Moorhead, MN, injured
Restraints: Seatbelt worn; airbags deployed