An 11-year-old girl from Wrenshall, Minnesota, is in critical condition after being struck by a pickup truck while riding her bicycle Friday evening. The incident has left the local community in shock, with a multi-agency emergency response still investigating the crash.
Child on Bicycle Struck by Truck in Carlton County
At around 5:10 p.m. on Friday, the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office received a distressing 911 call reporting that a child had been hit by a vehicle on Broadway Street in Wrenshall.
The call was made by an off-duty patrol officer from the Cloquet Police Department, who happened to be nearby and immediately began life-saving efforts on the victim. This quick response helped coordinate emergency teams to the scene without delay.
Emergency Response Involved Multiple Agencies
Within minutes, deputies from the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, along with first responders from:
Wrenshall Fire Department
Carlton Fire & Ambulance
Cloquet Area Fire District
Minnesota State Patrol
Pine County Sheriff’s Office
…arrived and took over emergency care, traffic control, and crash investigation. The child was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis by Life Link III due to the severity of her injuries.
Driver Cooperating with Investigation
The truck was driven by a 49-year-old man from Summerville, South Carolina. Authorities say he remained at the scene, cooperated fully, and showed no signs of impairment. The Minnesota State Patrol is handling the accident reconstruction to better understand what led to the crash.
At the time of the accident, the child was riding her bicycle in the roadway, though it’s unclear whether she was attempting to cross or travel along Broadway Street when the collision occurred.
Child’s Identity Withheld
The girl’s name has not been released, pending notification of extended family. Authorities are asking the public to respect the family’s privacy during this extremely difficult time.
Ongoing Investigation
The incident is still under investigation, and officials are working to determine whether any further action is necessary. No citations or charges have been announced as of now.
Community Response and Support
Though details remain limited, the local community has already expressed concern and support for the victim and her family. Wrenshall is a small town, and accidents like these deeply affect residents of all ages.
Officials also commended the quick thinking of the off-duty officer, whose immediate actions helped ensure the child received the fastest possible emergency care.
Friday’s tragic accident in Wrenshall has brought heartbreaking news to the Carlton County community. With a young life critically injured, investigators are focused on gathering the full details while emergency responders and hospital staff work around the clock to support the child’s recovery. While the cause of the accident is still under investigation, one thing is clear — the actions taken by both bystanders and emergency teams may have made all the difference in the race to save a life.
