Colonel Brandon Solberg, Superintendent | North Dakota Highway Patrol
Colonel Brandon Solberg, Superintendent | North Dakota Highway Patrol
On Thursday, June 5, a fatal crash occurred at approximately 8:39 AM on 359th Ave SW, one mile west of Douglas. The incident involved a 2022 John Deere side by side and a 2014 Kenworth truck. The North Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Gorlyn Wohlk, an 80-year-old resident of Douglas, was driving the John Deere vehicle. Richard Spaulding, aged 68 from Minot, was operating the Kenworth cement truck. Both vehicles were traveling west when Spaulding attempted to pass Wohlk's vehicle. During this maneuver, Wohlk made a left turn in front of the cement truck and was struck.
The collision resulted in the John Deere coming to rest in the north ditch. The Kenworth truck tipped onto its driver side and slid along the roadway, blocking both lanes of traffic. Wohlk sustained fatal injuries from the crash. Spaulding was injured and taken to Trinity Health in Minot for treatment.
The road conditions were reported as good at the time of the accident, with cloudy weather conditions. Several agencies responded to the scene including NDHP, Ward County Sheriff’s Office, Max Fire Department, Douglas Fire Department, Garrison Ambulance, McLean County Sheriff’s Office, and Makoti Ambulance.
Both drivers' use of seatbelts is noted; Wohlk did not use a seatbelt while Spaulding did. Charges related to the incident are still under investigation.
Information from this article can be found here.
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