City Council Member Struck, Killed While Inspecting Damage After Car Hits Bear
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 61-year-old Floodwood City Council member has been struck and killed while inspecting damage to a vehicle in Aitkin County Sunday.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the incident took place at 7:47 p.m. Sunday on Highway 200 just west of Jacobson Township.
There, the state patrol says a 2016 Chevy Cruze was traveling east on Highway 200 when it struck an animal.
According to the CBS affiliate KBJR, the animal was a bear. KBJR says Floodwater City Councilman Vernon Owens was the passenger in the car.
The driver and passenger were out checking damage on the disabled vehicle when a 2016 Chrysler 200 traveling on the same road struck Owens, killing him.
The driver of the disabled vehicle, 64-year-old Thomas Steven Andor of Hibbing, was not injured.
The driver of the Chrysler 300, identified as 55-year-old Jane Marie Sautbine of Cloquet, was also uninjured.
According to KBJR, Owns served on the city council since 2008 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy.
Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, according to the state patrol.