COLFAX, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – Northbound I-29 Ambulance Fire Causes Major Incident Near Colfax
Incident Summary
- What: Ambulance fire involving a Day County, SD vehicle
- Where: I-29 MM 36, northbound – 2 miles southeast of Colfax
- When: June 8, 2024, approximately 9:15 pm
- Conditions: Dry roads, clear weather, dusk
Agencies Involved
- North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP)
- Richland County Sheriff’s Office (SO)
- Colfax Fire Department (FD)
- Breckenridge-Wahpeton Ambulance Service
Details
- Vehicle: Ford ambulance from Day County, SD Ambulance Service
- Driver: David Dulitz, 71, Webster, SD (restrained, no charges)
- Passengers: Day County Ambulance EMT and an unknown patient
Narrative
On the evening of June 8, a northbound Day County, SD ambulance caught fire on I-29. The driver, David Dulitz, safely stopped the vehicle and, along with the EMT, evacuated the patient. The fire led to the complete loss of the ambulance and resulted in a 45-minute closure of I-29 for fire suppression efforts. The patient was transferred to another ambulance and taken to Sanford Hospital in Fargo. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Secondary Incident
During the ambulance fire incident, a secondary crash occurred about a mile south of the scene. A BMW initiated a four-vehicle chain reaction collision. Nine occupants were involved, with at least five being transported to hospitals in Fargo. This additional crash caused another 45-minute closure of I-29. Further details will be released later.
I’m Neil Berg reporting for trfnews.i234.me