LAKE METIGOSHE Two children died, another child and two men were injured when a vehicle drove over a tent and crashed into a tree at Hahn's Bay Campground at Lake Metigoshe early Sunday morning.
The names of the two children, ages 5 and 9, who died and the injured child, age 9, were not released by the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The adult in the tent who was injured was identified as 28-year-old Juan Ruiz. All are of El Paso, Texas.
According to a news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Juan Acosta, 30, of Newburg, was driving too fast for the conditions and lost control while negotiating a curve. Acosta, driving a 2006 Ford F-250 Super Crew pickup, traveled into a camp site, drove over a tent and crashed into a tree.
Acosta suffered minor injuries, the Patrol said. Two passengers in the vehicle, Jesus Torrez, 28, and James Klundt, 26, both also of Newburg, were not injured.
The 5- and 9-year-old children were pronounced dead at St. Andrew's Hospital in Bottineau. Ruiz, who was in the tent, suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to Trinity Hospital in Minot. The other 9-year-old in the tent suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Bottineau hospital.
The pickup had severe damage to the front end. The three occupants of the vehicle were not wearing safety restraints, according to the Patrol.
The accident happened at 1:10 a.m., the Patrol said.