Officer injured when drunk, distracted driver slams into police SUV, North Dakota Highway Patrol says

MANDAN, N.D. — A 28-year-old man is accused of driving drunk and distracted when he rear-ended a Mandan police vehicle, leaving the officer inside with minor injuries, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at about 8:50 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Main Street and Memorial Highway in Mandan.

Latrell Jade Black, of Fort Yates, was driving west in a 2016 Honda CRV on Main Street. As he approached the intersection with Memorial Highway, the CRV rear-ended a Mandan police vehicle, a 2019 Ford Explorer, that was stopped at a red light, the patrol said.

The Mandan officer, 26-year-old Halima Fiza Khalifa, was wearing a seat belt. She was treated for minor injuries at the St. Alexius emergency room and was released, the patrol said.

Black, who was not hurt, told authorities he was on his phone, had his head down and was distracted when he struck the police vehicle, according to the patrol.

Black was arrested on suspicion of DUI and driving under suspension, and he was cited for distracted driving, the patrol said. Court records did not list an attorney for him.