Local roads have proven dangerous for residents from Becker, Big Lake and Clearwater in recent weeks, with two fatalities and a motorcycle accident with injuries.

 

 

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a driver on Hwy. 10 in Becker last Friday evening.

 

The State Patrol reported 66-year-old Francis Pittman of Big Lake was crossing the highway around 7:30 p.m. when an eastbound driver in a Honda Accord struck him.

 

The driver, Anastasia Mattson, a 23-year-old woman from Brainerd, was not seriously injured. She had not been drinking; it isn’t known if Pittman had consumed alcohol. 

 

The Becker Police and Sherburne Co. Sheriff also responded to the scene.

 

MnDOT cautions more hours of darkness this time of year increases the number of pedestrian accidents and fatalities, and encourages both drivers and pedestrians use caution when walking and driving. 

 

Around one-third of pedestrian crashes happen during the weekday rush hours of six to nine a.m. and three to six p.m. One out of every four pedestrian fatal crashes occurred between nine p.m. and three a.m.

 

 

A Clearwater motorcyclist was injured in a crash on I-94 Oct. 18 near Monticello.

 

The State Patrol reported 67-year-old Gary Seeley was westbound on I-94 at 12:51 p.m. when his Harley Davidson motorcycle rear-ended a Toyota Camry driven by 25-year-old Isaiah Langston of Annandale. 

 

Traffic had been slowing down for a crash on I-94 near 190th Street when Seeley rear-ended the vehicle near 120th Street in Monticello.

 

Seeley received nonlife-threatening injuries and was taken to CentraCare in St. Cloud. The State Patrol reported dry roads and stated no alcohol was involved. Seeley was not wearing a helmet.

 

 

A Milaca man was fatally injured in a crash on Co. Road 11 near Santiago last Sunday evening.

 

The Benton Co. Sheriff’s Office reported 57-year-old Todd Morris was driving on Co. Road 11 when his vehicle struck a semi truck driven by 30-year-old Matthew Anderson from Becker. Neither he nor his passenger, 29-year-old Amy Anderson, also from Becker, were seriously injured.

 

Matthew Anderson stated to officers at the scene that Morris was driving without his lights on when he struck the semi.

 

Neal Schut was outside having a bonfire nearby when the accident occurred. 

 

“We heard what we thought was an explosion or loud bang,” he said. “We were concerned so we drove that way and arrived just moments after it happened.”

 

Schut stated a semi filled with shelled corn was tipped over and burning in the ditch on Co. Road 11. A nearby homeowner was already on the scene and was assisting the truck driver and his passenger who were uninjured.

 

A toxicology report was not available at press time.

 

The Sherburne Co. Sheriff’s Office and Becker Fire Dept. assisted at the scene.