GRAND FORKS — The North Dakota Supreme Court on Thursday, Dec. 4, ruled a critical piece of evidence in a fatal DUI case can be used in court, reversing a district judge’s earlier decision.

The case involves the June 2024 crash that killed Katarina Louthan, a young girl from Grand Forks Air Force Base. Police said the driver, 44-year-old Travis Bell of Fordville, had a blood alcohol content of 0.13 when the crash occurred at a red light in front of the Grand Forks airport.

For the past three months, the Supreme Court considered whether a state trooper properly administered Bell’s breath test or coerced him into providing one. District Judge Ted Sandberg earlier ruled the test was taken illegally and barred its use in court.

The Supreme Court found Sandberg misapplied the law and did not

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