KIDDER COUNTY, N.D. — A veil of heavy morning fog turned deadly on Interstate 94 Thursday, claiming the life of a young Bismarck man and leaving a visiting motorist from Idaho fighting for his life in a devastating high-speed collision.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol confirms that 20-year-old Malachi Stein was killed in the crash near Steele shortly before 6:40 a.m. The incident unfolded near mile marker 196, where despite dry pavement, visibility was severely reduced by dense fog.
According to the preliminary investigation, Stein was operating a 2012 Nissan Versa at a high rate of speed in the eastbound passing lane. Amid the low visibility, he failed to slow enough to see traffic ahead and rear-ended a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek.
The force of the impact was catastrophic. Authorities confirmed Stein was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Subaru, identified as 63-year-old Scott Johnson of New Meadows, Idaho, sustained life-threatening injuries. Emergency crews rushed him to a nearby hospital for immediate critical care.
The response to the tragedy was a massive multi-agency effort. Personnel from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Kidder County Sheriff’s Office, Steele Fire Department, Kidder Ambulance, Metro Area Ambulance, and the North Dakota Department of Transportation all converged on the scene to assist.
The Highway Patrol’s investigation into the exact circumstances of the crash remains ongoing. In its wake, officials are issuing a stern and urgent reminder to all motorists: reduce speed significantly during adverse weather conditions like fog, and most importantly, always buckle up. A simple seatbelt, they note, is the most effective defense in a crash and can mean the difference between life and death.