Wrong-Way Driver Causes Serious Accident Near Bemidji
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A wrong-way driver caused a crash on Highway 2 that sent several people to the hospital Thursday night.
According to the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, around 8:40 p.m., a driver in a SUV was spotted heading east in the westbound lanes of Hwy. 2 -- about 4 miles north of Bemidji.
The dispatch center got at least 15 calls reporting the wrong-way driver.
The SUV ended up running numerous vehicles off the road, before it hit a westbound vehicle and then crashed into another.
A deputy responding to the complains also hit the vehicles, which were blocking the lanes of Hwy. 2.
The driver and passenger in the second vehicle hit by the SUV were severely injured and brought to Sanford Health ER. he passenger was airlifted to Fargo.
The Beltrami County Deputy was treated at the ER and then released.
The driver of the wrong-way SUV was arrested and is being held at the Beltrami County Jail on charges of criminal vehicular operation.
Names are being withheld until family is notified.
Officers continue to investigate. They have not said if alcohol was a factor in the crash.
