BRAINERD — A Crow Wing County Sheriff's patrol vehicle collided with a motorcycle Thursday, April 10, on County Highway 45, sending the motorcyclist to the hospital.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported Dakota William Beehner, 18, of Brainerd, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center. The crash was reported at 7:14 p.m. south of Brainerd in Crow Wing Township.
"At approximately 7:12 PM this evening a collision occurred on County Road 45 near Cook Road involving a Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle and a motorcycle," the sheriff's office posted on Facebook Thursday night. "The motorcyclist was transported by ambulance to Essentia Health in Brainerd for treatment of injuries. The deputy driving the patrol vehicle was not injured. The incident is currently under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol."
The State Patrol's incident report stated Beehner was driving a 2024 Suzuki motorcycle south on County Highway 45. The State Patrol reported the driver of the 2020 Ford Explorer, Aidan J. Bartels, 25, Baxter, was also southbound on the highway and made a U-turn near Cook Road. The motorcycle t-boned the sheriff's department's Explorer while it was making the U-turn.
Bartels was not injured.
Bartels was with the city of St. James Police Department before he resigned in 2023 and joined the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, according to the city council minutes from June 6, 2023.
The State Patrol reported Beehner was wearing a helmet and Bartels was using a seat belt. Roads were dry at the time of the crash.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department was listed as an outside agency at the scene.
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