Fatal Accident in Beltrami County

On August 25, 2012 at approximately 3:00 AM, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office received two 911 calls regarding an accident involving a pedestrian struck by a car in Northern Township, near Balsam Road on Irvine Ave NW, approximately 1 mile north of Bemidji. Beltrami County Deputies responded to the scene and located Tyler Blake Cummings, age 21, of Bemidji, MN. Cummings had been struck by a car driven by Samantha Ruth Pender, age 19, also of Bemidji, MN. Pender and other occupants of her vehicle remained at the scene until officers arrived.

Cummings succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A Minnesota State Trooper responded to the scene to assist Beltrami County Deputies with the reconstruction of the accident. It appeared that Cummings was lying in the roadway when struck by the vehicle.

Bemidji Police Officers, Bemidji Fire Department and Bemidji Ambulance Service personnel assisted at the scene. This case remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol.