2 killed in crashes

Two people were killed in separate car crashes over the weekend in the Brainerd area.

One person was killed and another injured Sunday in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 18, one mile east of County Road 8 in Crow Wing County.

An 18-year-old Brainerd male was killed after the vehicle he was a passenger in ran off the highway and struck trees, the State Patrol reported.

A passenger, 18-year-old Jeremy Joel Coventry, was dead on arrival at St. Joseph's Medical Center. The driver, Denver Zapalka, 17, Brianerd, was transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd with possible head injuries.

The accident happened at 4:22 a.m. The vehicle was eastbound on Highway 18. The vehicle drifted across the road to the right and the driver over-corrected, causing the vehicle to go into the northbound ditch, striking several trees, the State Patrol reported.

The names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of their families.

In Mille Lacs County, one person was killed and four others were injured Saturday in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 169, just north of Mille Lacs County Road 11.

Cheryl Carlson, 43, Milaca, was died as a result of injuries suffered after her 1987 Acura was broadsided by a 1995 Dodge being driven by Brian Conklin, 25, Elk River.

The State Patrol responded to the accident at 1:07 p.m. Saturday and reported that Carlson's vehicle was pulling out of the Princess Bait Shop onto U.S. 169 and was hit by Conklin's northbound vehicle.

Carlson was airlifted to North Memorial Center in Robbinsdale. She died at the hospital. Conklin was not injured.

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