Posted: 1/17/07
Sunday morning crash in Lent Twsp. proves fatal
 Joshua Humphreys |
By Patrick Tepoorten
A Harris man is dead and another lies in serious condition as a result of a crash that occurred early Sunday morning in Lent Township.
Joshua Humphreys, 18, of Harris, was traveling westbound on County Road 18 at around 1:50 a.m. Sunday morning when he was struck by an eastbound car being driven by Joshua Carter, 22, of North Branch. In the car with Carter was Evan Kirkland, 21, of Harris.
The Chisago County Sheriff's Office believes Carter was traveling in excess of the speed limit when he lost control of his Oldsmobile Aurora and slid sideways into the oncoming Humphreys, who was driving a Pontiac Grand Am. After hitting Humphreys, Carter's car rolled over an unknown number of times, ejecting Kirkland through the rear passenger window in the process.
Humphreys was air-lifted to North Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead later that morning. Carter and Kirkland were both taken by ambulance to Fairview Lakes Medical Center and air-lifted from there to North Memorial. As of Tuesday morning, Kirkland was listed in serious condition and Carter had been discharged.
Humphreys' father Dave said of him, "He was very outgoing, very unselfish. He would do anything for anybody, anytime, without griping."
Humphreys was a 2006 graduate of North Branch high school and had been accepted to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for graphic arts the day before the accident. He spent the rest of the day watching movies and working on the computer at his girlfriend's house.
Dave Humphreys said Joshua had just pulled onto CR-18 from Iris Ave. when the accident occurred. "He probably wasn't going more than 20 miles an hour yet."
Aside from graphic design, Humphreys was a singer in at least two bands, and played concerts both locally and in the Twin Cities.
The State Patrol is reconstructing the crash. According to Sheriff Todd Rivard, the possibility that alcohol was involved has not been ruled out. His office expects test results in the coming week.
According to Rivard, all three people involved in the crash are believed to have been wearing seat belts.
Comment from Melody Goldbloom, 1/23/07
My condolences go out to the family of Josh Humphreys. I work at the High School as a Paraprofessional and I knew who Josh was and would see him in the hallways. It was quite a shock when I heard that Josh passed away. I have 3 children of my own (24, 22, and 19) all of whom graduated from North Branch High School. Again my condolences go out to the Humphreys family. May the Good Lord be with you.
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