Austin, Minn., man dies after fall from pickup

WASKISH -- An Austin, Minn., man died Friday of injuries he sustained Wednesday night when he fell off the tailgate of a pickup truck, Beltrami County authorities said.

Loren Peters, 34, died Friday at a Fargo, N.D., hospital from injuries sustained in the 9:30 p.m. Wednesday accident, Beltrami County Sheriff Phil Hodapp said Friday night in a statement.

Peters was apparently riding on the tailgate of a pickup truck driven by Patrick Munson, 41,of Centerville, Minn., in the 52000 block of state Highway 72 in Waskish when he reportedly fell off the tailgate, striking his head, Hodapp said.

He was taken by Blackduck Ambulance Service to North Country Regional Hospital and later airlifted to Fargo.

The accident remains under investigation by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office and Beltrami County Coroner's Office, Hodapp said.