Backus, Minnesota (KROC-AM News) - One person has died and three others were injured in a central Minnesota crash Wednesday morning.

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The Minnesota State Patrol reports that a Chevy Silverado was traveling north on Highway 371 just north of Backus around 7:30 a.m.

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Google (click to enlarge)
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The truck crossed into the southbound traffic lane and crashed with a Ford Escape, killing the passenger and seriously injuring the driver.

Minnesota State Patrol (click to enlarge)
Minnesota State Patrol (click to enlarge)
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The driver of the Ford was identified as 86-year-old Leo Elyea of Backus. He was transported to North Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger was identified as 83-year-old Susan Bye-Elyea also of Backus. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the truck, 46-year-old Stephen Ertl of St. Cloud, and the passenger, 26-year-old Ryan Skaja of Foley, were transported to St. Josephs Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The incident report indicates that the road was snow-covered and icy at the time of the wreck.

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