A North Dakota Belfield man is in a Bismarck hospital after being struck by a vehicle whose driver was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and possession of marijuana Thursday afternoon.
As 62-year-old North Dakota Belfield resident Norbert Rodakowski was walking west on the edge of 21st Street West in Dickinson, 20-year-old Kayln Dawn Meduna was driving east in a 2008 white Chevrolet Cobalt when her “attention was distracted” and she allegedly struck Rodakowski, according to a press release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
“She was digging around looking for a CD, according to her,” NDHP Sgt. Dan Haugen said.
After the incident occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Rodakowski was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center and later to St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, according to the release.
Haugen said Rodakowski was in serious condition after the incident.
Meduna was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, possession of marijuana and aggravated reckless driving.
“I can’t comment on the individual (field) tests because the case is still open, but she ultimately failed the overall testing procedure,” Haugen said.
Meduna’s driving history includes other violations, such as a disregarded stop sign, care required and speeding, according to the North Dakota Supreme Court website.
The crash occurred near a point where the speed limit decreases from 35 to 25 mph. Meduna was traveling in the 35 mph zone, but her speed is undetermined as the crash is still under investigation, Haugen said.
Rodakowski did not violate the law as he was walking with the correct flow of North Dakota traffic, Haugen said, adding it is unclear if there is a sidewalk as the side of the road is piled with snow.
The Dickinson Police Department and the NDHP responded to the scene and blocked off 21st Street West from Prairie Avenue, west to 10th Avenue West.
Meduna was traveling with 22-year-old passenger Joseph Mulske of Gladstone, who was not cited, but is wanted by authorities.
“We never actually got to talk to him because he just started walking after the crash,” Haugen said. “The police department’s been looking for him a while now … the police department’s been looking for him for other reasons.”
Sgt. Mike Hanel of the Dickinson Police Department said Mulske has four active warrants for his arrest — failure to appear on charges of alleged possession of methamphetamine paraphernalia and marijuana paraphernalia, failure to appear at a pretrial conference for marijuana possession and failure to pay a fine.
“Any help the public can give us by locating this individual will be greatly appreciated,” Hanel said.
