Walsh County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – Authorities say three people were injured Friday morning in a head-on crash on North Dakota Highway 17 near Grafton. The crash occurred in foggy conditions around 7:53 a.m. on August 29, 2025.
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, a 2024 Ford Escape driven by 70-year-old Ardis Pitcher of Cavalier was traveling eastbound when she attempted to pass a farm tractor pulling a chisel plow in a no-passing zone. The Escape crossed the centerline and struck a westbound 1992 Ford F150 head-on near mile marker 129, just east of Grafton.
Pitcher and her passenger, 65-year-old Randy Collins of Grafton, both suffered serious injuries. They were transported to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. The driver of the F150, a juvenile, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The juvenile’s name has not been released.
Officials noted that both Pitcher and Collins were wearing seatbelts, and airbags deployed in the Ford Escape. The juvenile driver was also restrained. The farm implement was not struck and was not involved in the crash.
Emergency crews from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Grafton Police, Walsh County Sheriff’s Office, Grafton Fire Department, and Valley Ambulance Service responded to the scene. Eastbound and westbound traffic in the area was disrupted while responders cleared the crash site.
The Highway Patrol says the crash remains under investigation. More information on North Dakota crash reports can be found here.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
