Victims in fatal crash identified

The North Dakota Highway Patrol has released the names of two people killed in a collision with a semi truck 13 miles west of Cando, N.D., at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The patrol said Dillion Azure, 24, Belcourt, N.D., was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier eastbound on N.D. Highway 17.

A 1985 semi truck with an empty hay rack trailer, driven by Dana McIntyre, 41, Leeds, N.D., had entered the highway from a field going west on N.D. Highway 17.

The Chevrolet failed to negotiate a curve and entered the westbound lane. The semi moved to the right, avoiding the car, but the car continued and struck the rear tires of the trailer, causing the semi truck to jackknife, the patrol reported.

The semi entered the north ditch, coming to rest on its wheels, partially on the road. The Chevrolet spun counterclockwise and entered the south ditch, coming to rest on its wheels.

Azure and passenger Calleen Belgarde, 19, Belcourt, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger in the Chevrolet, Alysaa Azure, 19, Belcourt, was injured and by air ambulance from the scene to Trinity Hospital, Minot. Dillion Azure had not been wearing a seat belt. It is not known if his passengers were wearing seat belts.

McIntyre was uninjured. It is unknown if he was wearing a seat belt.

The Chevrolet was totaled and the semi trailer had damage to its rear end.

The Cando/Rugby Rural Fire Department, Rugby Ambulance and the Towner County Ambulance assisted at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the patrol.

Tags: news, accident, fatality