Mark A. Wirtjes, 56, killed, and Christopher G. Smith, 29, and Michael P. Vail, 32, injured in single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 65 in Goodland Township, Minnesota
One killed in rollover crash in Itasca County; pedestrian killed in Brooklyn Park ID'd
Mark A. Wirtjes, who was killed, was a passenger in the 2015 Ford LGT, which flipped over on the two-lane highway. He was not weareing a seat belt, according to the patrol, and roads were wet at the time.
Patrol: Driver in fatal Itasca County crash was drunk, is jailed
Christopher G. Smith, 29, of Bemidji, was driving when the vehicle rolled over nearly twice and ended up in a ditch. The patrol said it detected alcohol use by Smith, who was suffered noncritical injuries.
Driver held in fatal rollover crash in northern Minnesota
The Star Tribune reports authorities suspect the driver was drunk. The 29-year-old man from Bemidji is being held in the Itasca County Jail, pending charges.
Man charged in fatal Itasca County crash, allegedly said dying friend was driver
A 29-year-old Bemidji man faces criminal vehicular homicide charges after allegedly being drunk and behind the wheel of a pickup truck that rolled over on state Highway 65 in Itasca County last week, killing a friend.
Bemidji man who tried to pin fatal crash on victim sentenced
Thirty-year-old Christopher Smith was sentenced Monday in Itasca County court for felony criminal vehicular homicide.
Why every fatality from a crash is not legally a wrongful death
After someone dies in a motor-vehicle accident, grieving family members and friends are often left with many questions. What caused the accident? Could it have been avoided? What do they do now that their loved one is gone?
Sometimes a fatal collision happens through no one's fault. Crashes caused by weather and road conditions, or by wildlife in the roadway, are examples. But when a fatal crash is caused by negligence, then family members should pursue a wrongful death claim, to uphold the victim's rights and begin the financial recovery process. Learn more about wrongful death claims here.
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