Highway 48 crash in Pine County results in fatality of unrestrained driver

A Wednesday morning crash on Highway 48 in Pine County resulted in a fatality.

According to the state patrol incident report, a Ford F150 pickup was traveling westbound in Barry Township around 11:35 a.m.

The vehicle lost control on the icy roadway and slid into the front of an eastbound semi truck pulling a trailer.

The pickup ended up off the road to the north of Highway 48, and the semi ended up in the south ditch.

The driver of the pickup, identified as 67-year-old Hinckley man Gary Thompson, died in the crash. According to the state patrol, he was not wearing a seatbelt.

It is currently unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The semi driver, a 50-year-old Pine City man, was not injured.

The Pine County Sheriff's Office, Mille Lacs Tribal Police, Hinckley Fire Department, and Essentia Ambulance assisted at the scene.