Snowmobiler critically hurt in collision with pickup

BACKUS - A 15-year-old Backus boy suffered serious injuries after being struck by a pickup about 7:10 p.m. Saturday on Highway 371, a mile south of Backus, the State Patrol reported.

The boy, Derek Engelke, was driving his snowmobile eastbound when he came out of the ditch along Highway 371 and was struck by a southbound pickup driven by Jonathan Gummert, 30, Brainerd.

Engelke suffered multiple injuries and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, where Saturday he was reported in critical condition. Information on his condition was unavailable Sunday.

Gummert was not injured.

The Cass County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene of the collision.