UPDATE: Faribault Man Dies in Motorcycle-Vs.-Truck Crash Near Truck Stop

UPDATE 8:30 P.M THURSDAY: Here is the complete death notice from the Boldt Funeral Home in Faribault for Todd Fletcher, 50, of Faribault, who died as result of Wednesday's crash near the Flying J truck stop, west of Northfield:

Todd Richard Fletcher, age 50, of Faribault and formerly of Kenyon, died suddenly on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind many loved ones and friends.

A memorial service will be held at Kenyon United Methodist Church on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. with the Reverend Dr. Dana Houck officiating.

A memorial visitation will be at the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault, on Saturday, July 27, 2013 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and also at the church on Sunday for one hour prior to the service.

Todd Richard, the son of Everett and Jeanette Fletcher, was born on October 4, 1962 in St. Paul. He graduated from Kenyon High School in 1981 and married Brenda Mogren, the love of his life for 30 years, on June 16, 2001 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, IA. Todd was employed by Crown, Cork & Seal of Faribault for many years. He enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycle and caring for his horses. Todd loved life, but most importantly he loved his family and friends unconditionally.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda; two children, Dakota Fletcher at home and Alexia Fletcher and her boyfriend, Troy Demann of Kenyon; one grandson, Jackson Fletcher; Todd’s parents, Everett and Jeanette Fletcher of Kenyon; one brother, Ed and Tammy Fletcher of Kenyon; two sisters, Gail and Dwayne Curl of Hastings and Lynn and Tim Fromm of Faribault; his father in law, Myrth Mogren of Faribault; brothers and sister in law, Adrian and Kelly Mogren of Kenyon, Annette and Matt Stenger of Faribault and David Mogren of North Branch; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Kay Marie Glasgow; his mother in law, Joan Bray; and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Fletcher was driving a motorcycle on Bagley Avenue near the truck stop when it collided with a tractor-trailer driven by Herschel L. Johnson, 63, of Dallas, TX, according to the Northfield News.

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UPDATE 9:40 A.M. THURSDAY: The name of the Faribault man who was killed in a motorcycle-vs.-truck crash near the Flying J truck stop Wednesday morning has been released by a Faribault funeral home.

Here is the death notice for Todd Fletcher that appears on the Boldt Funeral Home website:

Todd Fletcher, age 50 of Faribault and formerly Kenyon, died on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Arrangements are being completed by the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault and will be announced later.

Patch will update this story later with visitation and service information.

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UPDATE 2:40 P.M. WEDNESDAY: A 50-year-old man from rural Faribault was killed when the motorcycle he was driving collided with a tractor-trailer on Wednesday morning near the Flying J truck stop.

The Rice County Sheriff's Department told the Northfield News that the motorcycle was traveling on Bagley Avenue near the truck stop when collided with the truck, which was turning into the truck stop. 

The truck driver was "fine," Rice County Chief Deputy Dave Stensrud told the News.

The identity of both drivers was not released, pending notification of family members.

Patch will update this story.

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ORIGINAL STORY: The Rice County Sheriff’s Department and Minnesota State Patrol are investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle and tractor-trailer on Highway 19 near the Flying J truck stop and Interstate 35 interchange Wednesday morning.

KYMN radio says the crash happened at about 10:15 a.m.

According to scanner reports, the Northfield Fire Department responded to the crash scene. A medical helicopter was dispatched, but was cancelled.

A state patrol vehicle was seen speeding west on Highway 19 through Northfield at about 10:30 a.m.

Patch will update this story.

NUMBER OF FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASHES ON THIS RISE

Wednesday morning’s crash is the latest in what has been a rash of fatal crashes involving motorcycles in Minnesota this summer.

As of July 9, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said 26 motorcyclists had been killed so far in 2013. That compares to 18 during the same period a year ago.

Two of those fatal crashes happened in Dakota County: on Cedar Avenue in Lakeville on June 22 and on the border of Apple Valley and Lakeville on June 28.

But since those statistics were released, at least one fatal motorcycle crash has occurred, according to the state patrol. A 54-year-old Owatonna woman was killed on Sunday when she was thrown from a motorcycle near the intersection of Highway 21 and Bagley Road in Faribault. She was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by a 54-year-old man from Owatonna, who was seriously injured.