Two crashes in a construction zone force the closure of I-94 east of Jamestown

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (KFGO) – A West Fargo woman was cited and a Bismarck truck driver likely will face charges after two separate crashes in a construction zone on I-94 just east of Jamestown.

The first of the two accidents happened on Friday around 7 p.m. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says 21-year-old Alessandra Reynolds of West Fargo was driving east through a construction zone about a mile east of Jamestown. Troopers say she hit several sand-filled crash pad barrels and rolled her SUV, blocking eastbound traffic. Debris from that crash landed in the westbound lanes and struck a Jamestown woman’s car.

Reynolds was taken to Jamestown Regional Medical Center for minor injuries. She was cited for reckless driving. The driver of the car that was hit by the debris was not injured.

The second crash happened just west of the first crash, just before 7:30 p.m., in the same construction area. The Highway Patrol says Cora Smith of Golden Valley was driving east on I-94 and slowed down before the first crash. She was rear-ended by a semi and turned into the westbound lanes. The semi driver, 79-year-old Robert Dieterle of Bismarck, continued driving and struck a van. The driver and two passengers in the van were not injured. Smith was taken to Jamestown Regional Medical Center for minor injuries.

Dieterle will likely be charged after an investigation.

I-94 was closed for about an hour while crews cleared the road.