A pickup truck driver was thrown to his death after losing control on an icy highway after dark and colliding with an oncoming car west of the Twin Cities, authorities said Monday.
The crash occurred shortly after 6:20 p.m. Sunday on Hwy. 12 near Litchfield, according to the State Patrol.
Killed was Fidencio R. Rojas, 37, of Litchfield. The patrol said Rojas was not wearing his seat belt and was found dead after being ejected from the pickup.
Three passengers in the pickup, men ages 26, 43 and 44, suffered noncritical injuries, as did the car's 56-year-old driver, his 21-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son. All of the surviving victims were wearing their seat belts, the patrol said.
The pickup was traveling east on Hwy. 12, crossed the centerline of the two-lane road and was hit by the westbound car, according to the patrol.
Paul Walsh
