WAHPETON, N.D. (KFGO) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol says the victim of a hit-and-run crash in Wahpeton last week died from her injuries on Saturday. She’s identified as 20-year-old Bailey Bernstein from Wahpeton.
52-year-old Chad Olson of Wahpeton was facing felony charges of criminal vehicular injury and leaving the scene of the injury crash. Authorities say those charges will now be upgraded.
The crash happened around 7:40 p.m. Thursday in the 400 block of 11th Avenue South, north of the Wahpeton Airport.
State patrol says witnesses said a pickup with a loud exhaust was traveling eastbound and Bernstein and another woman were walking along the side shoulder of the roadway when the pickup, driven by Olson, struck Bernstein, throwing her into the south ditch. Olson then fled the area.
The other pedestrian was able to give a general description of the pickup and direction of travel. Police canvassed the area and located several videos of the suspected vehicle. Information was put out to the public and a tip led police to the vehicle that was parked in the driveway of a home in Wahpeton. The pickup had obvious damage and the driver was arrested at a nearby home.
Bernstein was taken to the Breckenridge hospital and then transported by Sanford AirMed to Fargo where she died.
