Jet ski driver injured in accident on East Battle Lake on July 9

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

A New York Mills man, 41-year-old Joshua Ard, was injured July 10 while attempting to burn a brush pile.

Ard was transferred to the Perham hospital and later flown by helicopter to a hospital in the Twin Cities. His condition was not immediately known.

Jet ski driver injured at East Battle Lake

Sheriff deputies, on July 9, reported that the driver of a jet ski was injured during an accident at East Battle Lake. The victim, a female, was taken to an area hospital with injuries to her leg.

Deputies said a nearby jet ski, driven by a male, didn’t see the female and crashed into her jet ski. The male was not injured in the accident.

Alcohol was not believed to have been a factor in the accident.

Accident reported northwest of Dalton

Sheriff deputies, on July 13, reported a vehicle accident with injury near the intersection of Highway 82 and Interstate 94, northwest of Dalton and south of Fergus Falls.

A female driver lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a light pole and street sign, totaling her vehicle. The victim, with non-life-saving injuries, was taken to the hospital in Fergus Falls.

The accident took place at 7:57 a.m.

Pontoon items stolen

Several items on a pontoon were stolen on the east side of Star Lake, along Beaver Dam Road. The incident was reported on July 8.

Taken were two Interstate brand marine batteries valued at $300, five rope buoys estimated at $125 and miscellaneous items. 

A fuel line was cut and there was damage to pontoon wiring, It appeared that suspects approached the pontoon during the previous nighttime hours.

Fire damage in attached garage

Sheriff deputies, on July 8, reported fire damage to an attached garage at a residence in the town of Ottertail.

The homeowner made the call and then he and family members evacuated from the house at 3:29 a.m. Ottertail and New York Mills fire crews responded to the scene of the fire.

The fire is believed to be the result of a faulty garage outlet.

Lake items stolen

Several items were stolen from a boat on Rose Lake, northeast of Vergas. The thefts were reported to sheriff deputies on July 7.

Among the items stolen were a radio for watercraft valued at $300, a sea legs remote control estimated at $130 and hydraulic fluid valued at close to $40.

There were no immediate suspects, according to sheriff deputies.