PICKARDVILLE – A Harvey woman died in a three-vehicle accident on the ND 200 highway, a half-mile east of Pickardville, on Friday.
North Dakota Highway Patrol identified the crash victim as 35-year-old Danelle Germain.
According to Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 3:40 p.m. and involved a school bus driven by Melinda Neff, 47, Mercer owned by Turtle Lake-Mercer Public Schools, a Chevrolet Impala driven by Germain and a towed trailer by a Ford. F-250 piloted by David Leroy, 79, Underwood. Nine children, aged 10 to 12, were on board the bus when the accident occurred.
Highway Patrol said the Chevrolet Impala was westbound on Highway 200 and the pickup truck and bus were both eastbound. The bus was going from Turtle Lake-Mercer School to McClusky.
The Impala drifted across the centerline. The pickup veered to the right to avoid a collision and the Impala missed the pickup but struck the side of the trailer. The school bus was behind the van. The school bus struck the Impala head-on and the bus rolled onto its right side, coming to rest at the intersection of Highway 200 and First Avenue Northwest.
Highway Patrol said the bus driver evacuated the children from the bus. They were all on First Avenue Northwest when first responders arrived. The bus driver and the children suffered minor injuries – bruises and scratches – and were taken to Turtle Lake Hospital for evaluation.
The driver of the Impala was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the van was not injured.
Part of the highway was closed for about five hours. Traffic was diverted to county roads during the closure.
The crash is being investigated by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
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