What:
- Pursuit/Injury Crash
Where:
- 156th Street SW and Ward County 14, approximately 10 miles west of Minot
When:
- June 28, 2024, 11:16 PM CT
Road Conditions:
- Mostly dry
Weather Conditions:
- Cloudy with light rain at times
Crash Involvement:
- Vehicle vs. round bales
Agencies Involved:
- North Dakota Highway Patrol
- Ward County Sheriff’s Office
- Minot PD K9 Unit
- Minot Community Ambulance
- Berthold Ambulance
- Minot Rural Fire Department
- Berthold Fire Department
Vehicle No. 1:
- 1995 Dodge Ram 1500
Driver No. 1:
- John Rodgers, 45-year-old male, New Town, ND
- Serious Injuries
- Restraints: Seatbelt not in use
- Charges: Driving Under Suspension, Fleeing a Peace Officer, Aggravated Reckless Driving
Passenger No. 1:
- Amber Little Soldier, 45-year-old female, Stanley, ND
- Serious Injuries
- Restraints: Seatbelt not in use
- Charges: None
Narrative:
On June 28, 2024, at 11:16 PM, a North Dakota State Trooper attempted to stop a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 for a traffic violation on Highway 2 near mile marker 142. The driver, John Rodgers, fled from the trooper, initiating a pursuit involving Ward County deputies. The Dodge pickup exited Highway 2, driving west on Ward County Road 12 before turning south onto 156th Street SW. A Ward County deputy successfully spiked the Dodge pickup’s tires just north of Ward County Road 14, causing the vehicle to enter a field.
Law enforcement set up a perimeter and located the Dodge pickup approximately half a mile south of Ward County 14. The pickup had struck a large stack of round bales. Both John Rodgers and his passenger, Amber Little Soldier, were not wearing seatbelts and sustained serious injuries. They were transported to Trinity Hospital in Minot.
John Rodgers faces charges of driving under suspension, fleeing a peace officer, and aggravated reckless driving. The incident remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.