Update (June 26, 2025): Authorities have identified the UTV driver killed in this accident at Gorlyn Wohlk.

Ward County, ND — June 5, 2025, one person was killed and another injured in a truck accident at about 8:30 a.m. on County Highway 24/359th Avenue Southwest.

Authorities said a 2022 John Deere utility vehicle was headed west when it was hit by a 2014 Kenworth cement truck that was passing it as the UTV tried to turn left onto 156th Street Southwest. The impact forced the UTV into the ditch, while the cement truck overturned.

The driver of the UTV, an 80-year-old Douglas man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The cement truck driver, a 68-year-old Minot man, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash about a mile west of Douglas. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

When people hear about a fatal crash involving a utility vehicle and a cement truck, the first question on many minds is: How did this happen? On the surface, it seems simple; the utility vehicle was turning left, the cement truck tried to pass and they collided. But those few lines leave a lot unsaid, and that’s where a real investigation needs to begin.

We’re told the utility vehicle was trying to turn left when the cement truck tried to pass it. That raises immediate questions: Was the UTV signaling? How far back was the cement truck when the turn began? Was the cement truck legally allowed to pass at that spot, and if so, was it safe to do so?

It’s not clear whether the truck began its passing maneuver before or after the UTV began turning. That matters. If the UTV suddenly turned without signaling, that’s one scenario. If the truck ignored a visible turn signal and tried to pass anyway, that’s another entirely.

Also left unanswered: Were there any markings or signs at that stretch of road to guide safe passing? Did either vehicle have dash cams? Was there cell phone use involved? What does the black box in the truck say about speed, braking or throttle just before impact?

Getting to the truth in crashes like this requires far more than what the initial news release offers. A proper investigation would need:

• Engine control module (ECM) data from the cement truck to see what the vehicle was doing at the time of the crash.
• Dash camera footage, if available, to clarify whether the UTV signaled or the truck passed in a no-passing zone.
• Cell phone records to rule out distraction on either driver’s part.
• Scene evidence, including tire marks, debris distribution and gouge marks in the pavement, to determine positioning and movement of the vehicles.

Another layer of this is what role, if any, the cement truck driver’s employer may have played. Was this driver trained on safe passing protocols? Had there been any past safety violations? Was this an experienced driver or someone new to the job?

I’ve seen cases where companies overlooked major red flags in a driver’s background, sometimes hiring drivers with histories of careless behavior or rushing drivers to meet unrealistic schedules. None of that is proven here, but unless those questions are asked, we’ll never know.

Key Takeaways

• We don’t yet know whether the UTV signaled or whether the truck had room or legal clearance to pass.
• Evidence like ECM data, dash cam footage and cell phone records will be key to understanding who was at fault.
• The cement truck driver’s training and company policies should be scrutinized to ensure they didn’t play a role.
• Just because a crash looks simple on paper doesn’t mean accountability is straightforward.
• Real answers only come when someone does the work to get all the facts.