On April 18, 2022, at 8:28 a.m., officers of the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to the 1800 block of Gateway Drive on a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a rollover.
Upon arrival, officers located a 2012 Ford Focus on the south side of Gateway drive, partially on the roadway and on the berm. The vehicle was on its passenger side, and the driver was still inside. The Grand Forks Fire Department responded and had to remove the front windshield of the vehicle in order to get the driver out. The driver was then transported by ambulance to Altru. There were no other occupants in the vehicle, and only one vehicle was involved.
The driver was identified as Raymond A. Dolezilek, age 69, of Grand Forks, ND. Investigation of the accident determined that Dolezilek was driving the Ford Focus eastbound on Gateway Drive. Just before rear-ending another vehicle that was eastbound on Gateway, the Ford Focus went up onto the berm, struck a pile of snow, and then rolled onto its side. Dolezilek was arrested for Driving Under the Influence. Dolezilek was also issued a citation for Care Required regarding the accident.
Just before the accident at 8:26 a.m., officers of the Grand Forks Police Department were dispatched to Happy Harry’s on Gateway Drive for a theft complaint that had just occurred. Witnesses on scene gave a license plate and description of the suspect vehicle and said the vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Gateway Drive. Further investigation identified the suspect in the theft as Raymond A. Dolezilek, and he was issued a citation for Theft of Property.
Eastbound traffic on Gateway Drive was re-routed for approximately 2 hours. The Grand Forks Police Department’s Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Team, along with the Northeast Regional UAS team, were activated to assist in the investigation.
The Grand Forks Police Department would like to take this time to remind everyone not to drink and drive and to always wear their seatbelts.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or have information regarding it is asked to contact the Grand Forks Police Department at 701-787-8000.
