Alcohol not a factor in fatal fire truck crash

COTTONWOOD, Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) – Drinking was not a factor in a crash late last month in southwestern Minnesota that killed a passenger in a fire truck near Cottonwood.

Initially, the State Patrol said it believed that drinking was involved in the September 26 rollover during homecoming festivities at Lakeview High School. Following further investigation, the patrol has ruled out alcohol in the crash.

A 43-year-old passenger in the fire truck, a member of the Wood Lake Volunteer Fire Department, died. A six-year-old boy was hurt in the crash.

The driver and the boy were first treated in Marshall and later transferred to Sioux Falls.

The patrol says none of those in the fire truck was wearing a seatbelt. Follow-up investigation determined that several beer cans found in the ditch near the fire truck were there prior to the crash.