Hwy crash injures three

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

Aug. 7, 1996

By Devlyn Brooks

Staff Writer

A three-vehicle accident that occurred Tuesday left three people injured, one vehicle totaled and two other vehicles extensively damaged, said a State Highway Patrol dispatcher at the Thief River Falls State Patrol office. The crash took place about 10 miles south of Bemidji on Highway 71 at about 12:15 p.m.

Todd Michael Neigun of St. Cloud was driving a road sweeping broom south on 71, creating a dust cloud because of newly-laid gravel. Another southbound vehicle, driven by B. Janette Back, 67, Laporte, entered the dust cloud and hit the sweeper from behind. A third vehicle, driven by Cherie Lynn Sorenson, 24, Bemidji, then drove into the rear end of Back's vehicle, the dispatcher said.

Back was driving a 1994 Buick Century which was totaled. Marianna Yates, 77, of Benedict, was a passenger in the Buick. Both women were taken to North Country Regional Hospital and were treated and released. The dispatcher said both were wearing seat belts.

Back was driving a 1994 Buick Century which was totaled. Marianna Yates, 77, of Benedict, was aB passenger in the Buick. Both women were taken to North Country Regional Hospital and were treated and released. The dispatcher said both were wearing seat belt. Both passengers were reported to be wearing seat belts.

The driver of the sweeper reported no injuries, and the sweeper sustained $2,000 in damage.