Officials release identity of pedestrian killed in crash
The crash was reported about 7 p.m. Monday, June 13. The victim and the horse she was walking on the side of the road were killed.
Emergency vehicles are parked on a hill Monday, June 13, 2022, on Thompson Road south of Brainerd where a pedestrian walking a horse was struck and killed.
Katie Marie Yaunick, 33, was the victim killed along with the horse she was walking in the Monday, June 13, crash on Thompson Road southeast of Brainerd. Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard released the information with the identities of those involved in the crash Wednesday morning. Goddard stated about 6:56 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to a personal injury crash in the area of 13519 Thompson Road. Deputies arrived on the scene and learned that a pickup truck was traveling east on Thompson Road when it struck the horse and Yaunick, who was walking the horse on the shoulder of the road. Yaunick was walking west. At the crash scene, Yaunick was determined to be deceased along with the horse, Goddard stated in the news release.
Thompson Road is southeast of Brainerd.
Contributed / Google Maps
Yaunick lived on Thompson Road near the area of the crash. The driver of the pickup was identified as a 44-year-old Matthew Richard Dircks of Brainerd. Dircks was driving home to his residence at the time of the crash and was not injured. The crash is currently under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol. The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Brainerd Fire Department, North Memorial Health Ambulance, Zone 1 First Responders, and the Minnesota State Patrol.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office responded to the personal injury crash, reported at 6:56 p.m. Monday, June 13, in Long Lake Township, southeast of Brainerd.
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