Pedestrian Hit & Killed In Park Rapids on Friday Night

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. (KVRR) — A man walking in Park Rapids is hit by a vehicle and later dies at a hospital.

Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Friday night just before 6 o’clock when 68-year-old Willard Pietila was walking near 1st Street West and Lake Avenue.

He was hit by a Jeep driven by 37-year-old Lacy Johansen of Park Rapids.

She told authorities she thought she hit an animal and was unable to stop due to traffic.

She later returned to the scene and saw the emergency vehicles and called 911 to follow up.

Pietila was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The incident remains under investigation.