FARGO, ND — A 33-year-old Fargo man is facing criminal charges after his minivan left the roadway Thursday night, became airborne and crashed into a gas station on Main Avenue.
The North Dakota State Patrol says the driver was eastbound in a 2007 Toyota Sienna around 9:14 p.m. when it drifted off the right side of the road. From there, the vehicle crossed a sidewalk and the front lawn of Royal Liquors before striking the curb and sideswiping the northeast corner of the building.
The minivan then went airborne and slammed into a gas pump and a steel support beam for the canopy at the M and H gas station.
Troopers say road conditions were clear and dry
Investigators said the crash happened in good weather, with dry roads and no other vehicles involved. That detail is part of the early picture troopers are using as they continue to sort out why the vehicle left the roadway.
The crash scene stretched across multiple properties near 1606 Main Ave., showing how far the minivan traveled after it first veered off the street. The sequence included a sidewalk crossing, a cut across a lawn, a curb impact and damage to the gas station structure and equipment.
The State Patrol has not said what caused the vehicle to drift off the road. Whether the driver was wearing a seat belt remains under investigation.
Driver was taken to Sanford Medical Center with serious injuries
Sanford Ambulance Service took the driver to Sanford Medical Center after the crash. Troopers said he suffered serious injuries.
Authorities arrested him at the hospital. He has not been publicly identified, and officials have not released additional details about his condition beyond the seriousness of his injuries.
The crash was severe enough to bring together multiple emergency agencies at the scene. Along with state troopers and ambulance crews, the Fargo Police Department and Fargo Fire Department responded Thursday night.
Charges include DUI and felony reckless endangerment
After the hospital arrest, the man was charged with driving under the influence, a Class B misdemeanor, and reckless endangerment, a Class C felony. Those charges reflect the State Patrol’s initial findings as the investigation moves forward.
Officials have not said whether any chemical test results are part of the case. They also have not released a timeline for when the case may move into court.
Because the investigation is still active, troopers have said they are continuing to review the crash circumstances, including the driver’s use of a seat belt and the full chain of events that led to the impact.
Main Avenue crash damaged gas station property and equipment
The minivan’s path left visible damage at the M and H gas station after it hit both the pump and a structural support for the canopy. The collision with the corner of the nearby building added to the damage along the route.
Troopers said the crash happened at 1606 Main Ave., an area with businesses close to the road and pedestrian features such as sidewalks. That layout appears to have played a role in how the vehicle reached the station after leaving the lane of travel.
No other cars were involved, according to the State Patrol, which means the damage was limited to the driver, the minivan and the property struck along the way.
State Patrol continues to review how the crash unfolded
The North Dakota State Patrol is still investigating the incident, with seat belt use one of the unanswered questions. Troopers have not said whether speed, impairment or another factor led the minivan off the road.
For now, the known facts point to a fast-developing crash sequence that started with a lane departure and ended with a direct hit to gas station equipment. The case now carries both misdemeanor and felony charges, but the investigative record remains open.
Officials have not provided a release date for any further findings. Until then, the State Patrol’s account is that clear weather, dry pavement and no other traffic were part of the scene when the minivan left Main Avenue and crossed into the gas station property.
