Eighteen year-old suffers fatal injuries in crash
Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor
At approximately 4:03 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, Brightyn Foote, 18, of New Town, was driving a 2017 Honda CR-V, traveling west on Highway 23 near mile marker 54.
Ramon Fuentes Mendiola, 25, of Mexico, was driving a 2014 John Deer 744 Payloader, traveling west on Highway 23.
When Mendiola observed the Honda approaching from behind, he merged toward the shoulder of the road. According to a news release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol the payloader had all of the front and rear lights activated.
Foote’s vehicle struck the right rear corner of the payloader, his vehicle came to rest on the north side of Highway 23 and the payloader came to rest in the westbound lanes.
Foote was using his lap and shoulder belt at the time of the crash, but was fatally injured. Mendiola was not injured. The crash remains under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.