Juvenile Dies in Crash After Itasca County Pursuit

Apr 20

A juvenile girl died early Sunday morning in a crash following a brief pursuit in rural Itasca County.

At around 1:30 a.m., a deputy with the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office spotted a driver without their headlights on, westbound on County Road 63 near County Road 271 in western Cohasset Township.

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled. A pursuit was initiated and continued until the fleeing vehicle crashed near the intersection of Highway 6 and County Road 11 in Deer Lake Township.

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The driver, identified only as a juvenile female, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. She died at the scene as a result of the crash. According to law enforcement, she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.

The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office has turned the investigation over to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota State Patrol is conducting the crash reconstruction.

In a statement, Sheriff Joe Dasovich expressed condolences to those impacted by the incident, asking the public to respect their privacy during “this incredibly difficult time.”

More information is expected from the BCA and State Patrol as investigation progresses.

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