A 70-year-old motorcyclist from Robbinsdale died in a collision at an intersection on the northern edge of the Twin Cities area, and his passenger was hospitalized with serious injuries, authorities said Monday.

The crash occurred about 4:15 p.m. Sunday at Hwy. 47 and 261st Avenue just north of St. Francis, according to the State Patrol.

Neither the motorcycle operator, Dexter G. Olson, nor his passenger, 64-year-old John R. Syrovatka, of Minneapolis, had on a helmet, the patrol said.

The car's driver, 50-year-old Diane M. Olson, of Ramsey, was not hurt. She was wearing her seat belt.

According to the patrol, the car was heading west on 261st and observed a stop sign. It then entered the intersection with Hwy. 47 and was hit by the northbound motorcycle, which had the right of way. It was the 40th motorcycle fatality in the state this year.

Paul Walsh