Lottery scam warning issued in OT County

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

Sheriff deputies reported a fatality following a ATV accident at 6:38 p.m. on July 21 in Compton Township near Bluffton of eastern Otter Tail County.

Losing his life in the accident was a 39-year-old resident of Wadena. The name was withheld until all family members were notified.

Deputies said the driver likely lost control of the ATV while traveling along a dirt road in Compton Township.

The ATV entered a ditch where lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful. Authorities were still investigating the crash as of July 22.

Motorcycle, car collide,

one person is injured

One person was injured when a motorcycle and car collided while one person swerved to avoid hitting a deer. 

The accident took place at 7:37 p.m. on July 21 at the intersection of Highways 35 and 18, north of Underwood.

The injured individual was taken to the hospital in Fergus Falls.

Drowning reported

at East Battle Lake

Sheriff deputies reported a drowning at East Battle Lake, between Battle Lake and Henning, late Saturday afternoon on July 17.

Deputies said a male was located unconscious about 5 p.m. Lifesaving measures were attempted but the victim, a male, was later pronounced dead.

The name was withheld until notification to family members.

Sheriff deputies were assisted by Henning Ambulance, Ringdahl Ambulance of Fergus Falls and Lifelink III.

Lottery scam 

warning issued

An elderly woman at an undisclosed location in Otter Tail County came close to becoming a victim of a lottery scam on Friday, July 16.

Sheriff deputies warn county residents to beware of these type of scam attempts.

A lottery scam is a type of advance-fee fraud that attempts to lure a victim into paying a certain amount of money for handling fees before the actual winnings are dispersed to the so-called winner.

The victim sends the money for handling fees but then receives nothing in return.

Illegal contacts can come to potential victims by phone, email or regular mail. If something seems too good to be true, it is likely a scam. If in doubt contact the county sheriff’s office at 218-998-8555.

Pedestrian injured

northwest of Perham

Sheriff deputies, in conjunction with the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, reported that a pedestrian was injured near Perham shortly after midnight on Friday, July 23.

A vehicle struck the victim, 25-year-old Giovanni D. Winters of Antioch, Illinois, on Highway 10 in Gorman Township, northwest of Perham. 

Winters was struck by a vehicle driven by Dustin David Tigges, 33, of Sebeka, Wadena County. Winters was taken to Sanford Hospital in Fargo with non-life threatening injuries.

State Patrol officers said that Winters was standing in the right lane of traffic when he was struck by a 2015 GMC Sierra. The airbag deployed and Tigges, the driver, was not injured.

Tigges was eastbound on Highway 10, toward Perham, at the time of the  accident.

Alcohol was a factor in the accident.