No injuries in one-car accident

Three teenagers escaped serious injury in a one-car accident Sunday, according to the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department.

The sheriff said Richard Etter, 18, Wimbledon, was traveling 75 to 80 mph on a paved road entering Kensal from the north at 10:55 p.m. when the accelerator stuck on his 1996 Chrysler. He came to an intersection and was unable to make the corner. The car left the roadway southbound, struck the Continental Pacific Railway tracks and became airborne. The car struck another set of tracks and stopped south of that set. Passengers in the car were Corby Stoppleworth, 16, Kensal, in the right front seat, and Brandon Hofmann, 13, James-town in the back seat.

The sheriff said none of the boys were wearing seatbelts, but all airbags did deploy. Stoppleworth and Hoffman were transported to Carrington Hospital with non-disabling injuries and released.

The sheriff said Etter had been drinking but passed a field sobriety test. Excessive speed and defective equipment were contributing factors to the crash.

The sheriff estimated damage to the car at $6,500. Approximately $2,500 damage was done to the tracks, with 170 feet pulled up from the ties.

Etter was cited for drag racing and minor in consumption.

Tags: accident, stutsman, county, etter, kensal