On April 26th, 2022, at approximately 7:57 p.m., officers from the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to The Rock Bottle Shop for a theft in progress call. During the police response, a Grand Forks Police patrol car was involved in a motor vehicle crash with a 2008 Ford Mustang. The patrol car was traveling east on Gateway Dr., and the Mustang was traveling north on N. Columbia Rd. The collision resulted in injuries to the Grand Forks Police officer, a civilian riding along in the patrol car, the driver of the Mustang, and a passenger in the Mustang. All four involved persons were transported via ambulance to Altru Hospital for medical treatment, although none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
At this time, there is an active investigation into the crash, and nobody has been cited at this time. The crash is being investigated by members of the Grand Forks Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Team and the Grand Forks Regional Unmanned Aerial Systems Team. None of the names of the involved persons will be released until later today so that all family and friends of the involved persons can be notified. Further information regarding the crash may also be released at that time. There is no further information regarding the initial theft call at this time.
The Grand Forks Police Department was also assisted by the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department, University of North Dakota Police Department, Grand Forks Fire Department, and Altru Health Systems.
Updated at 3:05 p.m.
The officer involved in this crash is identified as Ofc. Nicholas Fladland. Ofc. Fladland is a 3-year veteran of the Grand Forks Police Department. Ofc. Fladland was transported to Altru with non-life-threatening injuries, treated, and released.
The civilian ride-along is identified as Sarah Hall, 20 years old, of Grand Forks. Hall was transported to Altru with minor non-life-threatening injuries. She was treated and released.
The driver of the second vehicle is identified as Tylar Williamson, 23 years old, of Thief River Falls, MN. T. Williamson was transported to Altru with apparent non-life-threatening injuries. He was treated and released. The passenger of the second vehicle is identified as Sean Williamson, 28 years old and brother to Tylar Williamson, also of Thief River Falls, MN. S. Williamson refused medical attention on the scene.
This crash is still under active investigation. No charges have been forwarded at this time. All four occupants of the vehicles were wearing their safety belts. Ofc. Fladland was responding in an emergency fashion with overhead lights and sirens activated to the Rock Bottle Shop.
The motor vehicle crash is still an active investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Forks Police Department by one of the following methods:
Call: 701-787-8000
Online: Submit a tip via the GFPD’s Facebook or website
App: Submit a tip via the Tip411 app
