Icy roads lead to highway accidents
Twin Cities man arrested in crash with sheriff’s department vehicle
By JAMES C. FALCON
editors@bhgnews.com
Freezing rain that struck the area last Thursday night and the early morning of Christmas Eve caused roadways to become covered in ice, leading to a high number traffic accidents.
A news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol on Christmas Eve stated that the NDHP responded to multiple vehicles and semi-trucks in ditches. One such incident involved a commercial vehicle striking a State Trooper’s patrol vehicle while he provided traffic control; shortly after, a second commercial vehicle lost control and the patrol vehicle was struck a second time.
That same day, on Highway 83 eight miles south of Max, a McLean County Sheriff’s vehicle was struck after a Saint Paul, Minnesota, man lost control of his vehicle.
According to a news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Evan Jeglum, 30, was arrested for DUI after the accident occurred.
Jeglum, who was en route to Crosby from Saint Paul, was traveling north on Highway 83 when he lost control of his vehicle on the icy highway. The road conditions were poor, due to freezing rain. Jeglum had attempted to move for a McLean County emergency vehicle, which had its red and blue lights activated. He then lost control of his vehicle, a 2016 Dodge Journey, and struck a sheriff’s department vehicle, a 2019 Dodge Ram, which was parked. The Dodge Ram was not occupied at the moment, as the deputy was busy assisting a motorist near mile marker 163.
