Three Tragedies on Minnesota Roads on One Day

Undated (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota State Patrol responded to at least three fatal crashes in Minnesota on Thursday.

The first occurred just before nine in the morning on the south edge of Doran, which is a small town near the South Dakota border in west-central Minnesota. The State Patrol says a 20-year-old man from Breckenridge was killed after he lost control of his vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway, smash into the side of a southbound freight train, and burst into flames. His name has not been released.

Another fatal crash was reported around 1 PM in the St. Cloud area. The State Patrol says four vehicles were involved in the crash that claimed the life of a 68-year-old woman from Waite Park. She was the driver of an SUV that veered into oncoming traffic and collided with the three other vehicles before coming to rest in the ditch along Highway 15 in Sartell. Her name has also not been released.

The third crash victim has been identified as 67-year-old Douglas Starr of Onamia. The State Patrol report indicates alcohol was involved. Officials say Starr failed to navigate a curve on a highway that runs along the southern shore of Mille Lacs Lake and his car smashed into a tree in the town of Bayview. The deadly incident was reported around 2:30 in the afternoon. The State Patrol report also notes the victim was not wearing a seatbelt.