2 Watford City teens dead, 1 injured in Highway 85 crash

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A vehicle crash on Highway 85 in McKenzie County took the life of two teenage boys Tuesday, according to a North Dakota Highway Patrol release.

Around 1 p.m. Fenton H. Matthew, 17 was driving a 2001 Subaru Forester with passengers Hank D. Allen, 17, and Austin L. McCaulley, 18, all of Watford City, westbound on Highway 85 in the passing lane when the car hit a patch of slush. The car rotated counterclockwise into the eastbound lane and was struck by a 2005 Peterbilt driven by Jerry W. Bottoms of Fairfield, Texas, on the passenger side, splitting the vehicle in half.

The Subaru came to a rest facing northeast in the westbound lane. The Peterbilt hit the ditch.

Matthew, the driver, was injured. His passengers, Allen and McCaulley, were pronounced dead at the scene. They were not wearing their seat belts. It is unknown if Matthew was using any safety restraints.

Bottoms, the Peterbilt driver, was wearing his seat belt and was not injured.

The McKenzie County Ambulance responded to the scene. Parties were taken to McKenzie County Hospital and flown to Trinity Health in Minot.

Tags: mckenzie county, watford city, north dakota, news, dailyupdates