DEERWOOD — A 53-year-old Merrifield man was killed Thursday when the pickup truck he was driving crashed with a semi tractor-trailer on Crow Wing County Road 12, approximately three miles west of Deerwood, reported the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.
The Merrifield man was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi tractor-trailer, 47-year-old William Hanson of Cloquet, was treated at the scene and released.
The name of the Merrifield man is being withheld pending notification to relatives.
“This was a very sad, sad, tragic day,” said Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl. “My heart goes out to the family. My thoughts and prayers are with them.”
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the fatal crash that was reported at 11:19 a.m. Authorities had to close the county road that had icy conditions where the crash occurred.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Assisting the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office at the scene was the Minnesota State Patrol, the Crosby and Deerwood Police Departments, Crosby Fire Department, Deerwood First Responder and the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center/Crosby Ambulance Service.
Icy roads caused a lot of headaches Thursday morning in Crow Wing County.
The sheriff’s office responded to several reports of vehicles in ditches and minor crashes.
“We were going in all directions,” said Dahl. “There were cars in the ditch all over the place ... The roads were glare ice this morning and the roads with trees close by were black ice.”
The reports started at 6:36 a.m. on Spencer Road and Crow Wing County Road 3, with a vehicle in a ditch, before the 11:19 a.m. fatality near Deerwood.
There was a minor two-vehicle crash at 10:38 a.m. on Crow Wing County Road 16 and Forest Knolls in Jenkins.
Reports of vehicles in the ditch were reported on County Road 11, west of Highway 6, Pine Beach Road and Miles Circle, Spencer Road and Crow Wing County Road 3 and on the north side of the road on Highway 18, east of Katrine Drive.
Deputies also had two motorist assists at 7:09 a.m. on Crow Wing County Road 45, north of Cook Road and at 7:57 a.m. on Wise Road, a fourth mile off Highway 371.
Dahl encouraged motorists to use common sense and to slow down when driving conditions were icy.
“It’s just a matter of a milliseconds and you’re in the ditch,” said Dahl. “I always say it is better to arrive late than to not arrive at all.”
Crow Wing County Engineer Timothy Bray said the county roads were slippery Thursday morning and were not in great winter driving conditions.
“We had our crews out before 7 a.m. this morning treating the roads,” said Bray. “And we will continue to treat them and take care of them.
Today (Thursday) we had a good, sunny day so that helps.
“We’re trying really hard and we’ve been talking to people all day.”
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl.
Comments (12)
Add commentI would really hope that the
I would really hope that the State Patrol has already notified the families as you can see the plates on both vehicles. My heart goes out to the families of the people involved.
I work with some of the
I work with some of the family and they were not notified before this was posted. How disrespectful can the media be just to get the story out?
Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the fatal crash
Authorities had to close the county road that had icy conditions where the crash occurred.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Really you think maybe the icy conditions had some thing to do with it? Or do they just like to waste money?
And the family with be in my chain list and sorry for your loss.
Land of Sand
I have always wondered why county roads are so poorly maintained in the winter. I saw a plow go by my house five times (with the plow down) in thirty minutes even though the road was already clean on Wednesday. Never once was it spreading salt/sand. For years I have wanted to voice my concern for the lack of ice/snow melt that could reduce/eliminate the horrible county roads. In a land of sand, why do they use so little? On an 90 degree turn on cty road 118, ice has been prevalent there for at least two-three weeks. WHY?
Prayers
Prayers to the family. I can only imagine how they are feeling. 371 south of Pine River was a bit slickery this morning too.
On a different note... I think someone comes in and puts a thumb down on everything. They need to find a different hobby.
How many Fatal crashes must
How many Fatal crashes must we have before they actually do something about these roads? My thoughts & prayers are with the family.
County Road 12 was closed?
County road 12 was closed? Not enough of the road was closed! Maybe a 3 mile strech. People had to turn around at Spalj Construction, the police should have stopped the traffic in Deerwood to keep the nosie people with cameras away! My heart goes out to the families of all involved.
No guarantees in life foreverjaded
When you go out on the road, you are accepting a degree of risk and must accept a huge responsibility to drive under the conditions that are there and not expect the red (or black) carpet to be laid out in front of you.
This is real. As a trucker, my heart goes out to the driver of the semi. I can't imagine and would never want to experience being involved in a fatal crash. Our responsibility as professional truck drivers is to anticipate and avoid every accident. But accidents do happen.
Try to find 'education' in the outcome of the investigation and not just blame. Blame is a useless hindsight. A responsible driver learns and continues down the road with that knowledge.
Sad!
Sad and prayers to the family who lost that loved one and I am a truckers wife. My heart goes out to the trucker.
I agree that something has got to be done about these roads!! I have been up here long enough to see that whether it is the City, County or even the State road crews they do a horrible job with maintaining these roads during the Winter season.
Prayers
for the family and the truck driver. Trucks must be hard enough to drive in normal weather and then throw in slippery conditions.
Nan - your comment did not deserve any thumbs down.
That is life and we certainly have better things to
do than fret about a downed thumb.
Thumbs must provide entertainment for some.
I was driving in and around Deerwood
yesterday before this happened. there was sanding going on between Brainerd and Crosby and Deerwood.
Safe driving and be careful all of you.
Some things hard to anticipate
Early reports are that the P/U was pulling a small trailer with some kitchen appliances on it. The P/U lost control and slid sideways. The trailer disconected from the P/U and struck another semi. I was a truck driver for 21 years, a trainer for a couple years, took defensive driveing class above the ones that were required and try as we may, some things are hard to anticipate. Prayers for the victims family and friends as well as the 2 profesional drivers involved.
crash
You can see the plates, so the families could find out easily. They should do something about the roads. Thoughts and prayers go out to the families.