Charges pending after alleged theft of snowmobile at fatal crash scene

Authorities in Beltrami County (MN) say felony theft charges are pending against a male and female who allegedly stole a snowmobile from the scene of a fatal crash on Sunday.

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says it was notified of the crash on the Soo Line Trail at the Clearwater-Beltrami County line around 11:30 Sunday morning.

A female driver was hurt when her snowmobile crashed with a tractor trailer. She was later pronounced dead.

Several hours later, the victim’s family and friends returned to the area to recover several snowmobiles left at the scene. But a snowmobile belonging to the victim’s family was stolen.

Deputies followed tracks…and the next day, a search warrant was executed at two rural addresses near Leonard (MN). The stolen sled was found at one of the residences, and returned to its owner.

Meanwhile, the crash is being investigated by the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office. The S-O did not release the victim’s name.

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(Beltrami Co. Sheriff’s Office release: )

February 23rd, 2023

Buzzle Township, Beltrami County – On February 19th, 2023 at approximately 11:30AM, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a snowmobile crash at the Clearwater and Beltrami County Line on the Soo Line Trail, near the intersection of Clearline Rd NW and Soo Line Rd NW. A snowmobile had crashed with a tractor trailer resulting in serious injury to the female snowmobile operator. Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Service personnel conducted life saving measures on the female but was declared deceased. The crash is being investigated by the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.

Several hours after the crash, family and friends of the victim returned to the area to recover several snowmobiles that had been left at the scene. Unfortunately, one of the snowmobiles belonging to the family of the deceased was stolen. The stolen snowmobile was parked on the Beltrami County side of the county border and deputies immediately began searching for the stolen snowmobile. Beltrami County Deputies followed tracks leading west from the scene and followed up on several leads that evening.

With assistance from the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office, on February 20th a search warrant was executed at two rural addresses in Dudley Township near Leonard where snowmobile tracks matching the stolen snowmobile led. The stolen snowmobile was located at one of the residences and charges are pending on a male and female for felony theft. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office took possession of the snowmobile and returned it to the owner.

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office extends our condolences to the victim’s family.

-Sheriff Jason Riggs