FARGO, N.D. (NDHP) – The Highway Patrol has identified the men involved in a fatal crash near Oxbow, ND on Friday, August 9th at about 4:40pm. The following is a news release by Highway Patrol Captain Byran Niewind.

According to Niewind, on August 9th at approximately 4:40 pm, a two-vehicle fatal crash occurred on Co. Rd. 81 about ½ mile south of Hwy. 46. The crash location is approximately 2 ½ miles south of Oxbow.

A 2006 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Christopher Bauer of Puposky, MN was southbound when it drove off the roadway into the west ditch. The Chevy then re-entered the southbound roadway where it began a spin. The Chevy spun into the northbound roadway and was struck at a right angle (t-bone) by a 2002 Kenworth T300 towing a Massey Ferguson 2270XD baler. The Kenworth driven by Ryan Ottis of Kindred, ND struck the Chevy on the passenger side. The collision caused the Chevy to shear in half and both axles from the Kenworth to shear off the truck.

The Kenworth came to rest in the east ditch, upright, facing west. The baler became dislodged from the Kenworth and came to rest in the east ditch, upright, facing north. The Chevy was split in two pieces. The rear of the vehicle came to rest in the southbound roadway. The front of the vehicle came to rest in the east ditch.

Bauer, the 38 year old driver of the Chevy was wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead on scene. Ottis the 32 year-old driver of the Kenworth was transported by Kindred Ambulance to a hospital in Fargo for non-life threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the NDHP.