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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012
CONTACT: Capt. Rob Weinmeister, Lt. Caleb Walters or Lt. Doug Coughlin,
S.D. Highway Patrol, 605-626-2286
Spink County Fatal Crash
What: Two-vehicle fatal crash
When: Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, 5:41a. m.
Where: US Highway 281 and SD Highway 20, one mile west of Mellette, SD
Driver 1: Doug Elmer Carnahan, 50, Bottineau, ND, minor injuries
Vehicle 1: 2004 Kenworth T800
Driver 2: Wesley Allen Frasard, 71, St. Clair Shores, MI, fatal
Passenger 1: Ledger John Frasard, Jr., 68, St. Clair Shores, MI fatal
Passenger 2: William Edward Petrocy, 77, St. Clair Shores, MI fatal
Passenger 3: Nikolaos Andreopoulos, 69, New Baltimore, MI, fatal
Passenger 4: Thomas Edward Thorngate, 52, St. Clair Shores, MI, life-threatening injuries.
Vehicle 2: 2003 Ford Excursion
MELLETTE, S.D. – Four Michigan men died and a fifth received life-threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the junction of U.S. Highway 281 and S.D. Highway 20 a mile west of Mellette on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The Michigan men were traveling east on S.D. Highway 20 in a 2003 Ford Excursion. The vehicle failed to stop at the intersection with U.S. Highway 281 and was struck by a southbound 2004 Kenworth semi-truck. Wesley Allen Frasard, 71, of St. Clair Shores, Mich., was driving the Ford. He died in the crash, as did passengers Ledger John Frasard Jr., 68, St. Clair Shores; William Edward Petrocy, 77, St. Clair Shores, and Nikolaos Andreopoulos, 69, New Baltimore, Mich.
A fourth passenger, Thomas Edward Thorngate, 52, St. Clair Shores, was taken to an Aberdeen hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Doug Elmer Carnahan, 50, of Bottineau, N.D., the driver of the Kenworth, received minor injuries.
No further information is immediately available.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating. Spink County Sheriff’s Office, Spink County Emergency Management, Mellette Fire Department, Redfield Ambulance, Aberdeen Fire and Rescue and Aberdeen CareFlight assisted.
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