Two riding on motorcycle killed in rear-end crash in Pine County

A teenage driver rear-ended a motorcycle on a rural east-central Minnesota highway Sunday afternoon, killing both people on the bike.

Jerry McDowell, 66, and Sharon McDowell, 61, were eastbound on Hwy. 48 in Pine County and slowing to turn onto Flemming Logging Road in Clover Township when they were struck from behind by a pickup truck, the State Patrol said.

The McDowells, both of Pine City, Minn., died at the scene of the crash, which was reported just after 1 p.m. Both were wearing helmets, authorities said.

The identity of the 17-year-old boy driving the pickup was not released. He wasn't wearing a seat belt but was not hurt, authorities said.

Tim Harlow