VELVA, N.D. — 51-year-old Minot resident Brent Johnson was killed in a four-vehicle crash which took place at approximately 3:21 p.m., Friday, July 30, along U.S. Highway 52 four miles west of Velva.
The 51-year-old male was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Trax eastbound on the roadway when he attempted to pass a 2017 Chevrolet Impala. While attempting to pass, the Trax struck the rear of the Impala, causing both vehicles to spin out of the roadway.
In the process, a westbound 2018 Nissan Titan "struck broadside" the Trax, a report from the North Dakota Highway Patrol stated. As a result, the front portion of the Trax came to rest on the east shoulder while the rear portion came to rest in the west ditch.
The Impala came to rest in the east ditch. The Titan came to rest broadside on the centerline of the highway. Additionally, a 2020 Ram 1500 traveling behind the Titan was also involved in the crash. The Ram turned into the east ditch in an effort to avoid the Trax, however it was struck by debris from the crash and ran over a delineator post.
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Johnson was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at Trinity Hospital in Minot. The passenger of the Trax, Casey Savelkoul, a 26-year-old Minot man, was injured and hospitalized.
Christopher Wherley, the 32-year-old Velva man driving the Titan, and a juvenile male passenger were injured.
Diana Cervantes, a 19-year-old Minot woman in the Impala, was injured and hospitalized. Caleb Hegseth, the 20-year-old Minot man driving the Impala, did not appear to suffer any injuries.
Nicole Ramage and Troy Ramage, the Columbus, North Dakota residents inside the Ram, were not injured.
Those who were injured were transported to Trinity Hospital. All involved in the crash were wearing seat belts. None of the crash victims have been identified.
U.S. Highway 52 was closed for three hours and 40 minutes to investigate the crash.
In addition to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the McHenry County Sheriff's Office, Ward County Sheriff's Office, Velva Fire, Sawyer Fire, Velva Ambulance and Minot Community Ambulance responded to the crash.
Velva is roughly 22 miles southeast of Minot.
