Belcourt man dies in crash involving bus

(BELCOURT) — The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a 70-year-old man is dead following a crash in Rolette County on Saturday night.

According to a report from the Patrol, 70-year-old Edward Thomas was westbound on BIA Road 8, en route to an unknown location, when a 2011 International Bus, driven by 20-year-old Cole Brien, of Belcourt, was southbound on BIA Road 11 from rural Belcourt to the Sky Dancer Hotel and Casino.

Thomas disregarded the stop sign regulated intersection, striking the bus. Both vehicles subsequently left the roadway, entered the southwest ditch, rolled and came to rest facing northeast.

Brien was transported to the Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Hospital in Belcourt. Thomas was pronounced dead on scene.