Kelliher man dies in multi-vehicle crash near Blackduck
BLACKDUCK – A 41-year-old Kelliher man died after a Wednesday morning crash near here.
Chanin Johnson was following a snowplow Highway 72, about seven miles north of Blackduck, in a 2002 Chevrolet pickup, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The State Patrol said Johnson lost control of his southbound vehicle, which then spun into the northbound lane and into oncoming traffic. The pickup collided with a 1993 Peterbilt semi, driven by Bradley Kleeb, 49, of Bemidji.
Troopers and Beltrami County sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash at 10:44 a.m. Wednesday.
The patrol said Kleeb control of his truck, went into the path of oncoming traffic and collided with a 2005 Hyundai, driven by an unidentified 39-year-old Verndale man. The man was later airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, N.D., where he was in critical condition.
John Kahlstorf of Akeley, a passenger in the Hyundai, and Kleeb were both taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. A condition was not available for either man.
The State Patrol said roads were icy at the time of the accident and that the airbags in the pickup and Elantra were deployed.
Also responding to the scene were Blackduck Fire Department and Blackduck Ambulance.