Grand Forks, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) – Emotions ran high this Thursday as around two dozen people gathered outside the Grand Forks County Courthouse, demanding justice in a fatal crash case that has shaken the community.
Nicole Louthain, the mother of Katarina Louthain, who was killed in a tragic crash last June near the Grand Forks airport on Highway 2, led the protest. Katarina’s mother expressed outrage after a judge ruled that the blood alcohol content (BAC) test results of the accused, Travis Bell of Fordville, could not be admitted in court.
“I’ve been silent for 9 months, and what happens? They throw the BAC out,” Nicole stated during the protest. “How is being silent going to cause justice for my daughter? She’s going to be swept under the rug if I don’t raise my voice – and I want you guys to raise it with me.”
According to court documents, Bell initially refused a BAC test at the jail but later complied after further discussion, leading to the judge’s decision to suppress the results. Bell still faces charges of criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular injury. His jury trial is scheduled for August.
Others who have lost family members in alcohol-related crashes also joined Luain in solidarity. One supporter recalled losing her daughter, son-in-law, and 18-month-old granddaughter in a wrong-way drunk driving crash near Jamestown more than a decade ago.
Throughout the protest, chants of “Bell in a cell!” echoed across the courthouse steps as demonstrators demanded accountability and harsher penalties for impaired drivers.
I’m Chris Harper, and I’m reporting for TRF News.
Did you know?
- In North Dakota, a driver refusing a chemical test can trigger legal complications, but evidence can sometimes still be admissible under implied consent laws.
- Vehicular homicide in North Dakota is a Class A felony, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
- Grand Forks has experienced several high-profile drunk driving cases over the past decade, sparking local advocacy for tougher DUI laws.