7 teens riding in truck bed among 9 injured in crash

FRENCH LAKE, Minn. (KMSP) - Nine teenagers, including 7 who were riding in the bed of a pickup truck, were injured in a crash Sunday night on County Road 35 in French Lake Township, according to the Wright County sheriff.

The rollover crash was reported at 10:05 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 35 NW and Peyton Avenue NW. The 1998 Chevy S10 pickup had rolled into a bean field, injuring all 9 teenagers.

The victims

Driver

Blayne Kovisto, age 16 of Dassel - Life Link Air Care to Hennepin County Medical Center. He was listed in satisfactory condition on Monday afternoon.

Front passenger

Nels Wuollet, age 16 of Dassel - Allina Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital, transferred to North Memorial Medical Center.

Truck bed passengers

Ryan Raisanen, age 17 of Greenfield - Maple Lake Ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital in fair condition.

Kyle Laho, age 16 of Corcoran - Allina Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital, transferred to North Memorial Medical Center in satisfactory condition.

Clayton Johnson, age 15 of Dassel - Cokato Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital, transferred to North Memorial Medical Center in satisfactory condition.

Niklas Lee, age 15 of Greenfield - Cokato Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital. Treated and released.

Payton Halonen, age 15 of Monticello - Cokato Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital. Treated and released.

Chad Hoikka, age 15 of Cokato - Cokato Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital. Treated and released.

Garrett Keplinger, age 15 of Cokato - Cokato Ambulance to Buffalo Hospital. Treated and released.

The accident remains under investigation by the Wright County sheriff’s office.

Legal to ride in truck bed

“It is not safe, but it is legal,” according to the Scott County sheriff’s office. “A driver may, however, be charged for reckless or careless driving if they are swerving or committing some other type of driving maneuver which may further endanger the passengers back there.”