Moorhead man charged with DUI in head-on crash in Cass County

Photo by: Cass County Jail
Photo by: Cass County Jail

(Oxbow, ND) -- A Moorhead man is facing several charges following a head-on two vehicle crash in Cass County. 

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says the incident happened near the intersection of Cass County Road 81 and County Road 16 approximately 3.5 miles north of Hickson and Oxbow. Authorities say 28-year-old Alan Walker was traveling southbound along county road 81 and was attempting to turn left onto county road 16 when he crossed the center line. A second vehicle, driven by 37-year-old Marisa Merkel, of Fargo, struck Walker head-on.

Merkel and her passenger, 46-year-old Brandon Johnson, also of Fargo, were taken to Essentia Health with non-life threatening injuries and eventually were discharged.

Troopers say Walker then fled to his rural Clay County home, where he was eventually found. He was taken to Sanford Hospital for his injuries and after attempting to run, was placed under arrest and taken to the Cass County Jail.

Walker is charged with DUI, DUI Refusal, Driving Under Suspension, Criminal Vehicular Injury, Duty in Accident Involving Injury, and Escape. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.