A 17-year-old Barnesville girl has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation, two counts of driving while intoxicated, and criminal damage to property in Becker County District Court after a Friday evening car accident on Highway 10 in front of Kmart in Detroit Lakes.
The girl, whose name was not released since she is being charged as a juvenile, was the driver of a 1998 Ford Taurus headed westbound on Highway 10 on Friday, when, at about 7:21 p.m., it "abruptly turned" into the center median, struck a sign, and broadsided a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling in the eastbound lane, according to the Detroit Lakes police report.
According to the report:
The truck rolled over, ejecting driver Nicholas Westerholm, 21, of Fargo.
Westerholm and his passenger, 22-year-old Jenni Watland, were both taken to St. Mary's Innovis Health by ambulance.
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The passenger of the Taurus, 17-year-old Shelby Braton, was also transported via ambulance to the hospital.
All three had been released from St. Mary's as of Wednesday morning.
The Taurus also had two male passengers: 23-year-old Laurel Sandberg, and Shawn Lane, 23, of Horace, N.D.
All five of the 17-year-old drivers' charges are misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors.
Detroit Lakes Police Chief Kel Keena said alcohol was determined to be a contributing factor to the accident during preliminary field testing, but specific blood alcohol results were not available yet.
Detroit Lakes firefighters and State Patrol also assisted at the scene.
