Two Holiday Weekend Fatal Traffic Wrecks Reported So Far in MN

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Ortonville, MN  (KROC AM News)  - The Minnesota State Patrol is reporting two fatal traffic crashes so far during the Memorial Day weekend.

The first one happened around 5:00 pm Saturday in rural Big Stone County. The State Patrol says two smaller SUVs were involved and one of the drivers died at the scene. He was identified as 73-year-old Darryl Klapel of Ortonville. His 71-year-old wife Ladonna was a passenger and was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. The other driver was identified as 57-year-old Gregory Lecker of Minneapolis. He was also taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The other deadly wreck occurred around 2:45 pm Sunday in Isanti. The State Patrol says an SUV was starting to cross Highway 65 when it was hit broadside by a car. The SUV driver died at the scene. He was identified as 70-year-old James Wickoren of Cambridge. The other driver was identified as 20-year-old Houston Becker of Isanti. He and a passenger identified as 20-year-old Jack Carlson of New Richmond, Wisc. were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.