An 18-year-old Pillager High School student was killed in a two-vehicle collision Tuesday night on Highway 210 west of Brainerd.
The crash that took Devin Shawn Alexander's life was reported at 6:36 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 210, 1 mile west of Cass County Road 1 in Sylvan Township.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported Alexander was driving a 2001 GMC Sierra west on Highway 210, when he attempted to pass another vehicle, lost control and was struck broadside by an oncoming 2000 Ford F250. The GMC came to a rest in the eastbound ditch, and the Ford came to a rest in the eastbound lane.
Pillager High School Principal Josh Smith said additional support staff were available to students and staff Tuesday to listen and support those who were in need.
Smith noted Alexander will be remembered for his smile.
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"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Devin's family and friends," Smith stated in an email.
"If you knew Devin, we ask that you remember him as a young man who cared for his family and friends dearly. If you did not know Devin, we ask that you help support his friends and loved ones during this terribly difficult time with kind words, thoughts, and understanding.
"Coping with the loss of someone who has so much to look forward to in life is hard."
Smith said Alexander had completed basic training last summer and was anxious to graduate from Pillager High School this spring and move on to Advanced Individual Training.
The Ford truck involved in the crash was driven by 17-year-old Lane Dennis Blowers of Motley. Blowers and one of his five teen passengers-Edward Feleciano Papenfuss, 17, Browerville-had non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. As of later Wednesday morning, Blowers has been released from the hospital and Papenfuss was in fair condition.
Three of the passengers-Skyler Jo Bittner, 15, address unknown; Tyler Jacob Chounard, 16, Cushing; and Conner James Kasper, 15, address unknown-had no injuries; and the fifth passenger, Kearra Marie Mikel, 16, Browerville, had non-life-threatening injuries, but was not transported to a hospital.
The Cass County Sheriff's Office and the Pillager Fire Department assisted at the scene.
The state patrol reported the highway was icy and that all the persons involved were wearing their seat belts.
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Alexander was the second person in the Brainerd lakes area to lose his life on the icy roads Tuesday. A 30-year-old St. Michael man was killed Tuesday morning when his truck rear-ended a snowplow on Highway 10 south of Royalton.
Road conditions continued to be icy Wednesday across the state. The state patrol responded to four personal injury crashes from 6:30-10 a.m. Wednesday:
• At 6:48 a.m., a driver lost control on Highway 60, entered the median, rolled over and came to a rest in the ditch near Lake Crystal in Blue Earth County, injuring a 20-year-old woman.
• At 8:58 a.m., a driver lost control on Highway 60 near Lake Crystal, rolled, entered the ditch and hit two trees, injuring a 38-year-old man.
• At 9:36 a.m., a driver lost control on Interstate 190 near Dover in Olmsted County, entered the median and rolled over, injuring a 78-year-old woman, who was a passenger.
• At 9:47 a.m., a driver lost control and rolled in the ditch on Highway 2 in Itasca County, east of Deer River, injuring a 21-year-old woman.
