Park Rapids, MN – At around 11:35 Sunday morning (September 29th), the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a two-vehicle car accident in Straight River Township, south of Park Rapids.
According to officials, a pickup truck was travelling north on Highway 71 when a smaller passenger vehicle driven by 72-year-old Thomas Ty Kolden of Wadena pulled out in front the truck from Highway 87. The vehicles collided and ended up in the west ditch.
Kolden was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the pickup, 64-year-old Steven Kermit Rodke and 75-year-old Mickie Katherine Rodke of Hawley, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment.
The State Patrol was assisted by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Hubbard First Responders, Park Rapids Police Department, Park Rapids Hospital, and North Ambulance.