News

High speed chase ends in fatality

By Scott Wagar

11/19/2013

A high speed chase took place in Bottineau County on Friday evening which went through three counties and ended in the death of one individual and the injury of a deputy from the Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department.

According to the Bottineau County Sheriff’s Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the incident started near Landa and ended in Burke County when Dustin Hoffman, 34, Sherwood, N.D., fled from Bottineau County Sheriff’s deputy Jeremy Tofteland after he attempt to conduct a traffic stop.

Tofteland, along with a number of other law enforcement agents, pursued Hoffman who drove through Bottineau, Renville and Burke counties at high speeds.

In Burke County, Hoffman failed to negotiate a curve on a gravel road while going west and entered into a ditch on the north side and struck an approach, taking his 2001 GMC Sierra truck air bourne and landed west of the approach in a field.

Hoffman died at the scene due to the crash.   

Tofteland was slightly hurt in the pursuit, but it is not affecting his work schedule.

The accident occurred on Burke County Road 2, approximately three miles east of Northgate, N.D. at 6:18 p.m.

Hoffman did not have a seat belt on during the time of the accident.
The crash remains under investigation.