A motorcyclist struck a deer on a dark central Minnesota road and was hit moments later by a minivan while two witnesses were at his side in the lane of traffic, authorities said Tuesday.
The chain of events Monday night south of Princeton proved fatal for Roger Claassen, 44, according to the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office.
"There's not a lot of street lighting at that spot" along County Road 2, just east of 124th Street in Baldwin Township, said Sheriff's Cmdr. Steve Doran.
Doran said that while the van swerved to avoid the motorists at Claassen's side, the driver could not avoid the fallen motorcyclist.
"I hate to make a blanket statement" about what a citizen should do under such dramatic and life-threatening circumstances, he said.
"Every situation is different, but unless you're well illuminated with your clothing," it's best to call 911 and wait in a safe place for emergency responders, the commander added.
Claassen, who lived less than 4 miles southeast of the crash scene, hit the deer about 7:30 p.m., roughly an hour after sunset, Doran said. The van came along soon after. The van's driver stopped immediately after hitting Claassen.
"What we don't know yet" is whether the collision with the deer or being struck by the van killed Claassen, Doran said.
