Plea agreement approved in case of DUI crash that killed Grand Forks girl

Travis Bell (right) and attorney Mark Friese (left) appearing remotely for a change of plea hearing on Monday, Jan. 26.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO) – The man accused in a drunken driving crash that killed a six-year-old girl and seriously injured her mother, changed his plea on Monday.

Travis Bell pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of criminal vehicular injury in the June 2024 crash.

It was reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. on June 3, 2024 at U.S. Highway 2 and Airport Road, about 3 miles west of Grand Forks.

The Highway Patrol says an SUV was sitting at a red light at the intersection when a pickup driven by Bell hit the SUV from behind.

Court records show Bell was over the legal limit for driving with alcohol in his system. The trooper says Bell had watery eyes and smelled like alcohol. After a field sobriety test, the trooper gave Bell three breath tests reading .123%, .130%, and .128%.

The driver of the SUV, Nicole Louthain of the Grand Forks Air Force Base, was taken by ambulance to Altru hospital with serious injuries. Six-year-old Katarina Louthain was air-lifted to Fargo where she later died.

On Monday, Jan. 26, Judge Ted Sandberg said the State and Defense both approved the plea agreement. The State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad says she has discussed the agreement with the victim’s mother, Nicole Louthain.

The judge accepted Bell’s guilty pleas and approved the plea agreement.

The agreement calls for a prison sentence of three to six years, which will be decided at sentencing.

“Some people may argue that three years is way too lenient and six years is way too harsh. Or that six years is not nearly enough and three years is ridiculously low. Those are various arguments and I expect that the parties will make those arguments to the court. As to the ultimate sentence, I have no opinion at this time,” said Judge Sandberg.

Travis Bell (Grand Forks County Correctional Center)

Bell would also serve three years of supervised probation and be ordered to participate in the 24/7 Sobriety Program for 24 months.

A jury trial scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled and Judge Sandberg ordered a pre-sentencing investigation to be completed by the North Dakota Department of Corrections, Parole and Probation.

Bell will be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. on May 18. He is out of jail on bond until sentencing.

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