On July 27th at about 8:30 pm, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a motor vehicle crash between a motorcycle and tractor pulling a silage wagon.

The crash happened at the intersection of 15th Ave NE and 160th St NE in Langola Township. First responders were sent to the scene and began rendering aid to the 17-year-old male who had been driving a 1983 Honda Trail 110 motorcycle, as he had sustained serious injuries in the crash.

The driver of the Case IH 280 tractor, Allen Lee VanNurden, age 64 of Rice, was uninjured in the crash.

Deputies investigating the crash found evidence indicating that, prior to the crash, both the motorcycle and tractor were driving northbound on 15th Ave NE. As both vehicles neared 160th St NE, the juvenile driving the motorcycle moved into the southbound lane of 15th Ave NE to initiate a pass of the tractor.

As he did so, the driver of the tractor turned the tractor and silage wagon left to proceed westbound on 160th St NE.

The motorcycle then collided with the silage wagon. Investigating deputies found both the tractor and silage wagon had slow moving vehicle signs affixed.

The juvenile male did not appear to be wearing a helmet while operating the motorcycle. Evidence gathered from the drivers and a witness indicated VanNurden did not know the motorcycle was following his tractor and that the juvenile male did not appear to see the tractor trailer combination signal their left-hand turn prior to the crash.

While still at the scene of the crash, the juvenile male lost consciousness and first responders noted his vital signs began deteriorating. Lifesaving efforts were performed on the juvenile male, however he was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The investigation into this crash remains on going. There was no indication of impairment for either driver.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at this scene by the Royalton Police Department, Rice Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Rice Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance, and North Air Care.