KINDRED, ND — North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers have identified the driver accused in a Sunday head-on crash near Kindred that left a Fargo woman seriously injured. Authorities say 22-year-old Zachary Busse now faces multiple felony charges tied to the collision, including driving under the influence of drugs, criminal vehicular injury, reckless endangerment and fentanyl possession.
Troopers said the crash happened when Busse was driving a pickup east on Highway 46 and illegally passed another vehicle in a no-passing zone. The pickup then struck an oncoming SUV driven by 28-year-old Cassandra Prince of Fargo. Prince was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo after the crash.
How troopers say the collision unfolded on Highway 46
According to the Highway Patrol, Busse’s pickup was traveling east when he attempted to pass another vehicle where passing was not allowed. That maneuver put him directly in the path of Prince’s SUV, leading to the head-on impact near Kindred.
Head-on crashes are often among the most severe roadway collisions because both vehicles are moving toward each other at the time of impact. In this case, state troopers say the illegal pass was the key action that set off the wreck. The patrol has not released additional details about road conditions or whether anyone else was involved beyond the vehicles identified in the crash.
The collision happened Sunday, and investigators are now treating it as a case involving both serious injury and alleged criminal conduct. The charges announced by troopers point to concerns not only about impairment, but also about the danger created by the passing maneuver itself.
Charges include drug impairment and fentanyl possession
Busse is facing several felony counts after the crash. The list provided by troopers includes driving under the influence of drugs, criminal vehicular injury, reckless endangerment and fentanyl possession.
Those charges suggest investigators believe more than one factor may have contributed to the crash and its aftermath. Criminal vehicular injury is typically used in cases where a driver’s conduct causes serious bodily harm, while reckless endangerment reflects behavior that placed others at substantial risk.
The fentanyl possession charge adds another layer to the case, though troopers did not say how much fentanyl was allegedly involved or where it was found. No court details were included in the information released by the Highway Patrol, and it is not clear from the announcement whether formal charges have already been filed in court or are pending further proceedings.
Fargo woman airlifted after being struck head on
Cassandra Prince, 28, of Fargo was driving the SUV that was hit in the crash. After the collision, she was airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo for treatment.
Being transported by air ambulance usually signals the need for rapid care after a serious injury, though troopers did not describe the full extent of Prince’s injuries. Her condition was not immediately released in the Highway Patrol information.
The crash also involved a passenger in Busse’s pickup, 19-year-old Arianna Alinder of Wahpeton. She was taken by ambulance to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo as well. Officials did not say whether Alinder’s injuries were serious or whether she remained hospitalized.
What investigators have said about the pickup and its occupants
State troopers identified Busse as the driver of the pickup and Alinder as the passenger riding with him. Both were taken to Sanford Medical Center after the wreck, according to the Highway Patrol.
The patrol did not say whether either occupant was wearing a seat belt, whether airbags deployed, or whether investigators believe speed played a role. Those unanswered questions are common in early crash investigations, especially when the incident may also lead to criminal charges.
For now, the Highway Patrol has focused on the sequence of events that led to the head-on impact and the injuries that followed. Its account places the center of the case on the unsafe pass in a no-passing zone and the suspected drug impairment allegations now attached to Busse.
Why the crash drew felony allegations rather than a traffic citation
The crash has moved well beyond a routine traffic matter because of the severity of the injuries and the allegations tied to Busse’s driving and alleged drug possession. Felony charges such as criminal vehicular injury are generally reserved for cases involving serious harm and dangerous conduct behind the wheel.
Law enforcement also cited reckless endangerment, which underscores the risk created when a driver makes a prohibited maneuver into oncoming traffic. The addition of driving under the influence of drugs suggests troopers believe impairment may have affected Busse’s decisions before the impact.
Authorities have not said when Busse is expected to appear in court or offered any further update on the investigation. For now, the Highway Patrol’s account centers on a dangerous pass, a violent head-on collision and the serious injuries that sent two people to Fargo hospitals.