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The Williston community woke up to a tragedy on Tuesday after four young people died in separate vehicular accidents late Monday evening.
According to reports from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, in both cases none of the occupants of the vehicles were wearing their seat belts.
The first incident occurred at approximately 8:17 p.m. on Monday, when a 2004 Silver Dodge Ram 1500 pickup occupied by three teenage males was traveling east on 57th Street Northeast near Springbrook, northeast of Williston, failed to yield to an Amtrak train bound for Stanley at a marked railroad crossing. According to investigators the train collided with the Dodge, pushing it down the tracks for a short distance before the pickup fell off. The 17-year-old driver of the Dodge was in critical condition and was transferred to Minot's Trinity Health hospital. A 15-year-old male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other, a 17-year-old male, was pronounced dead at Williston’s CHI St. Alexius Health due to the extent of the injuries he sustained in the crash.
The second incident happened shortly before midnight on U.S. Highway 2 in Ward County. The Highway Patrol's report said a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup was traveling west on Highway 2 on Monday evening. The driver, a 34-yearold female from Williston, lost control of the vehicle due to ice on the road, sliding into the median and overturning. The driver and both occupants, a 12-year-old female and a 13-year-old female ,were not wearing seat belts, and ejected from the vehicle.
One juvenile came to rest on the road and was struck by an empty truck tractor/semi-trailer, while the other came to rest in the median. Both passengers were pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the news release, while the driver sustained serious injuries and was transported by EMS for treatment.
In a joint statement the City of Williston, Williston Police Department and Williston Basin School District #7 said the community is reeling from what they call an "unimaginable tragedy." The school district officials said they have mobilized a crisis team with Williston Police Department school resource officers to provide support and counseling at Williston High School and Bakken Elementary for staff and for students as they process the loss of their classmates. Those seeking grief counseling are asked to visit www.willistonschools.rog/page/grief-resources.
“Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this terrible tragedy. Our Resource Officers are at the schools and have been instructed to do whatever they can to comfort those affected by this tragedy," Williston Mayor Howard Klug said in the statement, "We will do whatever we can to support those families, as well as the residents of the City of Williston that are going through this tragedy. We will get through this together, because that’s what Williston does."
The accidents were responded to by personnel from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the Ward County Sheriff's Office, Mountrail County Sheriff's Office, Berthold Ambulance, Berthold Fire, Williams County Sheriff's Office, Williston Ambulance Service and Williston Fire and Rescue.
Both crashes are still under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, and the name of the adult driver in the rollover will be released at a later time.