UPDATED at 3:45 p.m. on 02-02-10: Off-duty Alexandria police officer killed in snowmobile crash

An off-duty Alexandria police officer, Patrick Callaghan, was killed in a snowmobile crash Friday evening.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and North Ambulance were called to the scene of a two-snowmobile crash on the Central Lakes Trail near Liberty Road east of Alexandria at about 8:10 p.m. last night, according to the sheriff’s office.

Upon arrival, deputies found two male victims injured – Callaghan, 31, of Alexandria and Mark Ruder, 25, of Glencoe.

Both victims were transported to Douglas County Hospital and later airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC).

Callaghan died at HCMC. As of 1 p.m., Ruder was listed in serious condition at HCMC.

The accident is under investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Callaghan was hired in November of 2007. His family has a rich history of law enforcement service going back to his great-great grandfather. He is the son of Jeff and Deb Callaghan of rural Carlos. Jeff is a former Douglas County sheriff's chief deputy.

The Alexandria Police Department issued the following statement:

"On January 29, Alexandria Police officer, Patrick Callaghan, was killed in a snowmobile accident. Patrick was off-duty at the time. This is a great loss for the Callaghan family, the Alexandria Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Alexandria, which is the community Patrick served in. This is a great loss to all of us. Funeral arrangements will be announced when they are set."

FUNERAL INFORMATION:

Visitation for Patrick Callaghan, 31, of Alexandria will take place today, February 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.

The funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 3 at 1 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria.

The funeral procession following the church service will be as follows: from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church traveling south on Highway 29, west on 3rd Avenue, north on County Road 22 to the west gate of Kinkead Cemetery. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is located at 2702 Highway 29 North; Kinkead Cemetery is located at 530 Agnes Boulevard.

The Alexandria Police Department will be using the gym of the Alexandria Technical College’s Law Enforcement wing at 1601 Jefferson Street for overflow from the funeral.

Because of space restrictions at the church, the public is invited to go to the gym to attend the funeral service, as it will be broadcast via closed circuit television.

The service is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce respectfully requests that are businesses fly their flags at half-staff tomorrow, Wednesday, February 3, in memory of Callaghan.

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