A McKenzie County sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries when his patrol vehicle was struck by an oncoming 2016 Chevy Silverado near Watford City as the deputy tried to make a U-turn on Tuesday.

Deputy Ray Beebe was taken to the hospital in Watford City for treatment, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

According to the Patrol, Beebe was driving east on Highway 23 near mile marker 6. Troy O’Donnell, 40, of Grand Forks, was driving the Chevy Silverado east on Highway 23 when he entered the passing lane. According to the Patrol, Beebe failed to see O’Donnell and another unknown vehicle in the left lane, slowed, and tried to make a U-turn onto Highway 23. The unknown vehicle took evasive action by driving into the right lane and O’Donnell took evasive action by driving into the westbound lane of Highway 23 to avoid the patrol vehicle. Beebe turned onto the westbound lane from the left eastbound lane as O’Donnell made the evasive action. The front of O’Donnell’s Silverado collided into the center driver’s side of Beebe’s patrol vehicle. The Silverado came to rest facing northeast in the east lane of Highway 23 and the patrol vehicle, a 2018 Chevy Tahoe, came to rest in the south ditch of Highway 23. Airbags were deployed in both vehicles. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. O’Donnell was not injured.

Both lanes of traffic on Hwy 23 were shut down for approximately two hours to allow damaged vehicles to be removed. The accident is still under investigation by the Highway Patrol.