Two people died Monday morning in a three-vehicle crash in Carlton County and two others were arrested in the crash's aftermath, the Minnesota State Patrol reported.

The crash happened just after 8:45 a.m. on Hwy. 210 at Award Boulevard, west of Cromwell. An eastbound car driven by Vanessa Brigan, 26, of Cloquet, Minn., had been weaving and crossed the center line, and its left front tire hit a pickup driven by Zachary Gamache, 25, of Esko, Minn.

The pickup's axle broke and it veered into oncoming traffic, sideswiping a vehicle pulling a trailer driven by Christopher Hecker, 42, of Nisswa, Minn. Gamache and his passenger, Mitchell Lingren, 29, of Duluth, who were not wearing seatbelts, were ejected and fatally injured.

Brigan was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation, and her passenger, Jesse McMillen, 25, of Cloquet, fled the scene and was later arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Brigan, McMillen and Hecker were not injured.

PAMELA MILLER