FARGO, ND — A 36-year-old Horace man suffered life-threatening injuries early Sunday when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a compact SUV near downtown Fargo, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
The crash happened about 4:14 a.m. at Main Avenue and University Drive. Troopers said the motorcycle entered the intersection against a red light and hit the rear passenger side of a Subaru Forester traveling west on Main Avenue.
The impact threw the rider from the motorcycle and spun the Subaru around. The man was taken to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo for treatment.
How the crash unfolded at Main Avenue and University Drive
According to investigators, a 61-year-old Fargo man was driving the Subaru Forester westbound on Main Avenue as he approached University Drive. The traffic signal for that direction had turned green, and he continued through the intersection.
At the same time, the Harley-Davidson was heading south on University Drive toward Main Avenue. Troopers said the motorcycle went into the intersection on a red signal and struck the passenger-side rear of the Subaru.
The force of the collision caused the motorcycle rider to be ejected. Law enforcement said the crash was strong enough to spin the SUV around in the intersection.
Motorcyclist not wearing helmet and faces drug-related charges
The Highway Patrol said the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet when the crash occurred. He was listed as critically injured and taken by ambulance for hospital care.
Troopers also said he will be charged with driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia. No further details about those charges were released in the initial report.
The patrol has not said whether the charges have been formally filed yet or whether additional testing is pending.
Subaru driver and passenger were not hurt
The driver of the Subaru Forester and a passenger were not injured, authorities said. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the collision.
That detail mattered in the early assessment of the crash scene, since the SUV occupants were able to avoid serious harm despite the impact in the intersection.
No information was released about damage to the vehicle beyond the fact that the Subaru was struck on its rear passenger side and rotated in the crash.
Traffic camera footage captured the intersection collision
Police said a traffic camera at the corner recorded the crash. That video is part of the investigation as troopers work to piece together the exact sequence of events leading up to the collision.
The intersection was shut down for nearly three hours while investigators and emergency crews worked at the scene. The closure affected one of Fargo’s busier downtown corridors in the early morning hours.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol said the crash remains under investigation.
Fargo fire, ambulance and police crews responded to the scene
Along with the Highway Patrol, the Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department and Sanford Ambulance all responded to the crash. Their presence helped secure the scene, care for the injured rider and manage traffic around the intersection.
The early-morning timing meant the area was likely quieter than usual, but authorities still had to close the intersection while they gathered evidence and assessed injuries.
Officials have not released any additional information about the rider’s condition beyond saying the injuries were life-threatening.
