COOK — Two people were injured, one critically, in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening at Minnesota Highway 1 and Samuelson Road.
The incident occurred just before 8 p.m. when a 2008 Ford F150 pickup failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with an on-duty St. Louis County sheriff's deputy's Ford Explorer, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Ayden Richard Houde, 20, of Orr, was transported to Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth with life-threatening injuries. Deputy Brett William Lucas, 50, of Britt, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Cook Hospital and Care Center.
Emergency response included the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, Breitung Police Department, Cook Area Ambulance Service, Cook Fire Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and authorities are assessing the scene for possible lane closures and tows.