Brad Cichos (left) and his wife, Margaret. Brad was killed last week when a truck rear-ended the horse-drawn wagon on which he was a passenger.

Brad Cichos, a former member of the Rugby Volunteer Fire Department and head custodian at Rugby High School, was killed last week in a homemade wagon-truck accident on Highway 17 near mile marker 15, west of Wolford. Cichos was 53.

According to a press release from the N.D. Highway Patrol, Cichos and his wife, Margaret, 53, were passengers on a wagon driven by Lyman Halvorson, 61, Wolford, and pulled by two Clydesdale horses. The wagon was eastbound on Highway 17 was it was rear-ended by a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by 75-year-old Lyle Lima, of Wolford.

All parties on the wagon were ejected. Brad Cichos was pronounced dead at the scene.

In 2001, Brad Cichos joined the Rugby Fire Department, and retired this past winter.

“He was one of the first to jump in and he wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty,” said Rugby Fire Chief Will Griffin. Griffin added that Brad was also a mentor to younger members of the department.

In October 2009, Brad became the head custodian at Rugby High School.

Rugby Public Schools Superintendent Mike McNeff said that Brad was a “good person” and a “taskmaster” who got things done.

“I think we’re coming to the realization of how important he was,” McNeff said. “We’re all struggling with (the loss of Brad) and we’ll continue to struggle with it.”

McNeff said that Margaret Cichos also worked as a custodian within the school district.

Visitation for family, friends and the community will be held Friday, June 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby. Funeral services will be held at a later date.

OTHER VICTIMS

According to the press release, Margaret Cichos was first transported to Towner County Hospital in Cando, and then airlifted to Altru in Grand Forks.

Kenzie Halvorson, 18, Wolford, was transported to the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby and was released. She was later taken to Minot for further testing.

Lyman Halvorson was transported to Rolla Hospital, and then airlifted to Trinity Hospital in Minot.

Amiyah Halvorson, 4, was airlifted to Trinity Hospital, and then to the Minneapolis Childrens’ Hospital, with two broken legs and bruised lungs.

GoFundMe accounts have been set up for Amiyah and the Halvorson family to defray medical expenses.

The crash occurred late afternoon during partly sunny conditions. The wagon was totaled and the horses pulling it had also been killed.

Agencies responding to the crash were the Pierce and Rolette County Sheriffs’ departments, and Wolford and Rugby fire rescue.

The crash is under investigation by the N.D. Highway Patrol. As of this writing, no charges have been filed against Lima.

– Tribune Staff Report

*NOTE: Cichos’s notice in obituaries says Friday, June 11. The 11th is a Saturday.