NEW SALEM, N.D. (NDHP) – A Minot woman died in a motorcycle crash in central North Dakota Saturday, July 15th around 4:35 pm.

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP,) 56-year-old Tami Petersen-Ness and 37-year-old Stephanie Murray from Wilton were riding staggered next to each other in a group of about 60 motorcycles just after 4:30 p.m near New Salem.

Petersen-Ness was behind and to the right of Murray when Petersen-Ness braked and veered to the left, clipping Murray’s motorcycle. Murray was able to keep her motorcycle upright.

Petersen-Ness was thrown from her motorcycle when it entered the ditch. She was taken to St. Alexius in Bismarck where she died. Both women were wearing helmets.