A dangerous time for motorcyclists

Motorcycle crashes are taking a heavy toll in Minnesota this year.

Through the month of August, the number of motorcycle drivers killed in the state hit 40 for the year – compared to 29 rider deaths at this time last year.

On August 30, two motorcycle drivers, one from West Union, were killed in a head-on collision in Benton County about 10 miles northeast of St. Cloud.

According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Patrick Ogg, 52, of Foley, was trying to pass a vehicle on his motorcycle at County Road 4 and County Road 61 in Gilmanton Township when he crashed into an oncoming motorcycle driven by Larry Sorenson, 61, of West Union.

Both Ogg and Sorenson were killed.

CRASH NEAR FARWELL

This past Saturday, a serious motorcycle crash happened near Farwell in southwest Douglas County.

A motorcycle crashed into a car on Douglas County Road 7 near the Pope County line at 2:36 p.m.

Witnesses reported that Curtis Nolan Osborn, 59, of Wahpeton, North Dakota was traveling south when he crossed the centerline and struck the front of a northbound car driven by Debra Kay Nygaard, 50, of Farwell.

Osborn and his motorcycle ended up in the ditch. Osborn, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered leg injuries and received medical treatment on the scene. He was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Nygaard and a male passenger were wearing seat belts and were not injured, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Osborn was traveling with several other motorcyclists as part of the 11th annual Lakeland Hospice Ride, which began in Fergus Falls Saturday morning.

Also responding to the scene were the Kensington First Responders, North Ambulance, LifeLink helicopter, Pope County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Al Edenloff

Al Edenloff was born in Alexandria and later moved to Parkers Prairie where he graduated in 1979. While in high school, he wrote sports stories for the Parkers Prairie Independent. Al graduated from Moorhead State University with a degree in mass communication and started at the Echo Press as a summer intern in 1983. He worked as a reporter until 1990 when he was named editor. He's earned several writing and reporting awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) and the National Newspaper Association. He was presented with the Minnesota News Council's Journalism Accountability Award and is a three-time winner of the MNA's Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award. In his spare time, Al enjoys golfing, fishing, biking, watching sports, cooking and reading mystery novels.

Tags: local news, news, motorcycles, accidents