BELCOURT — Ernest Counts, 57, Minot, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening in Rolette County and three other people were injured, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Counts was driving a 2003 Toyota Tundra west on Highway 281. It was struck by a 2021 Buick Enclave driven by Richard Casavant, 73, Rolette, who went through a stop sign at the intersection of Rolette County Road 15 and Highway 281 and struck the Toyota Tundra. The Buick entered the northwest ditch, struck a light pole, and came to final rest. The Toyota Tundra also entered the northwest ditch, rolled and came to final rest on its passenger side.

Casavant, who was wearing his seat belt, sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a Rolla hospital. He was later transferred to Trinity Hospital in Minot for treatment. Counts, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers in the Toyota Tundra, Jasmine Counts, 30, Dunseith, and Brandon Reese, 32, Clinton Township, Michigan, who were also not wearing seat belts and were also thrown from the vehicle, were taken to Trinity Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The accident happened at 10:06 p.m. on Wednesday.