A 70-year-old man has died after a UTV crash on County Road 22, about a half-mile east of Highway 25 in Crow Wing County, on Friday evening, July 3, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies and emergency crews responded to the scene, and the man was taken to North Memorial Hospital with serious injuries, where he later died. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office is still investigating what led up to the crash.
According to WJON, Zone 1 first responders, North Memorial Ambulance, and the Brainerd Fire Department all assisted at the scene. The outlet reports the crash happened on County Road 22 roughly a half-mile east of Highway 25, and notes that authorities have not released further details while investigators work to piece together exactly what happened.
State Safety Guidance And Off-Road Risks
Off-road safety groups and state resources continue to remind riders that UTVs offer less protection than passenger cars and that basic gear can make a life-or-death difference. BuckleUpMN stresses that riders should wear seat belts and DOT-approved helmets. The site notes that the Minnesota DNR provides youth training and safety courses and recommends inspecting vehicles before riding, keeping speeds in check, and avoiding paved roads where UTVs are more likely to tip. Those same precautions are routinely highlighted after crashes tied to rollovers or loss of control.
Local History Of UTV Incidents
Crow Wing County has seen serious ATV and UTV incidents before. The county's public news archive documents earlier crashes that required multi-agency responses, according to Crow Wing County. Those records include previous UTV fatalities that brought out sheriff's deputies, local fire departments and ambulance crews. That history tracks with the safety warnings officials often repeat during busy summer weekends on northern Minnesota roads and trails.
The sheriff's office has not yet released the victim's name and is asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office. More information will be released as the investigation continues, WJON reported. State safety resources continue to urge riders and passengers to wear seat belts and helmets and to complete DNR safety training before taking off-road vehicles onto public routes. We will update this story as officials provide new details.
