BEMIDJI-Icy road conditions contributed to several car crashes in the Bemidji area Thursday.
One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after 2001 Chevrolet Venture Van slid off the road and into the ditch on U.S. Highway 71 at mile marker 335 at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday. According to the State Patrol, Lucy Smith, 49, of Blackduck, was driving north when the van lost control on the icy road and slid, crossing the southbound lane and going into the ditch. A passenger in the van, Georgie Houle, 25, of Bemidji, was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in Bemidji with non-life-threatening injuries, a patrol release said. A second passenger, Cassius Council, 46, of Blackduck, was not injured. All three people were wearing seatbelts, the patrol said.
An 18-year-old Bemidji was injured earlier Thursday when her car left the road and hit a tree, according to the patrol.
Savonnah Sayers, 18, was northbound on state Highway 89 at about mile marker two just before 3 a.m. when her 1999 Ford Contour left the road and hit a tree and fence, the patrol's release said.
Road conditions were described as icy, according to the patrol report. Sayers was wearing a seatbelt and the car's airbag was deployed. She was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said.
