Minnesota man dies in two-vehicle crash near Medora

A Minnesota man died in a two-vehicle crash when the trailer he was pulling was sideswiped by another trailer near Medora, the North Dakota Highway Patrol said Wednesday.

Jerry Roper, 60, Lake City, Minn., died at the scene of the crash which happened at 3:41 p.m. Tuesday 6 miles west of Medora on Interstate 94.

The patrol said Roper was westbound on I-94 in the right-hand lane driving a Chevrolet Trail Blazer that was towing a camper trailer Kenneth Roemke, Goshen, Ind., was also westbound, in the left lane in a Volvo truck towing a trailer house.

The collision happened when Roemke’s vehicle began to overtake the Roper vehicle in left lane and the trailers being towed made contact. Roper then lost control of his Trail Blazer, entered the north ditch and overturned coming to rest on its roof. Roper, who was wearing a seat belt, died at the scene, the patrol said. His passenger, Celeste Roper, 61, also of Lake City, was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson where she was treated for injuries. She was wearing a seat belt.

Romeke, who was also wearing a seat belt, was not injured.

The 2003 Trail Blazer and camper trailer were totaled, the patrol said. The 2003 Volvo and camper sustained $10,000 in damages.

The crash is under investigation.

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