Three people died in two separate car accidents in Bismarck over the weekend.

In the first crash, 19-year-old Sarah J. Riley of Bismarck died Sunday of injuries sustained in a head-on collision Saturday afternoon at the 1500 block of River Road, near the railroad bridge. Sgt. Jeff Solemsaas said Riley's car appeared to have come to a standstill in her lane before being struck head-on by a full-size pickup. He said it appeared as though the pickup was in her lane when they collided, and after plowing over the car, the pickup flipped and landed on its roof. He said police were continuing to investigate in an effort to reconstruct the accident.

The driver of the pickup, Richard Wiest of Bismarck, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and was being held Sunday in the Burleigh County jail. Solemsaas said the man's knee required stitches.

The second accident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday on the newly widened University Drive south of Bismarck, where it intersects with Burleigh Avenue near the entrance to United Tribes Technical College.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Brad Smith said a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old man was eastbound on Burleigh Avenue when it collided with an SUV driven by a 43-year-old Bismarck man who was northbound on University Drive. The driver of the SUV was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. His 28-year-old female passenger died later in a hospital, according to Smith.

He said it appeared the eastbound vehicle drove through a stop sign before the crash. The driver of that vehicle was taken to St. Alexius, and his condition was unknown, Smith said.

He said none of the three were wearing seatbelts. The names of those involved in the accidents were not released by the Highway Patrol.

Both of the accidents are under investigation and will be reviewed by the state's attorney's office for possible criminal charges.

(Reach Deena Winter at 250-8251 or deena.winter@bismarcktribune.com.)