Duluth Police seeking help in crash
Duluth Police are asking the public for help in their investigation of a Thursday traffic accident that resulted in "serious life-altering, but not life-threatening injuries" to a 43-year-old Duluth man, according to a news release.
Richard A. Sobczyk was riding a motorcycle south on Piedmont Avenue at 8:51 p.m. Thursday, when a northbound Jeep Wrangler driven by Brad W. Thompson, 42, of Superior, attempted to make a left turn onto 24th Avenue West, resulting in a collision.
Sobczyk was not wearing a helmet and was critically injured in the accident. He was transported to St. Luke's Hospital.
Thompson, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered minor injuries from broken glass and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where he was treated and released.
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An accident report said Thompson was arrested and faces pending charges for criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm, driving while impaired, not having insurance and failing to yield during a left turn.
Police are seeking witnesses to the crash. Authorities believe a woman was walking in the vicinity of the accident. Also, they believe that a vehicle was trailing Sobczyk's motorcycle down Piedmont when the collision occurred.
These parties and any others who may have witnessed the accident are encouraged to call Investigator Tom Stolee in the traffic office at (218) 730-5475.
Freeze warning issued for tonight
Yes, it's nearly June but the National Weather Service in Duluth as issued a freeze watch for tonight and early Sunday morning for parts of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin away from Lake Superior.
Temperatures early Sunday could dip as low as
27 degrees across the Minnesota-Ontario border and areas of the Iron Range. Areas most likely to freeze are inland portions of St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin's Washburn, Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties, as well as the Upper Peninsula.
Temperatures are expected to bottom-out at about 38 in the Duluth, thanks to a slowly warming Lake Superior. Any influx of clouds or wind also could keep other areas above freezing.
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The forecast cold continues a month-long trend of seasonable nice days but cold nights. That trend is expected to continue into the first week of June, with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 30s and 40s -- about 10 degrees below normal.
Fire bans lifted in last counties
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin issuing burning permits in Lake and Cook counties starting Monday, the last Minnesota counties to see seasonal burning bans lifted as spring green-up occurs.
That means there are no burning restrictions in the state, but that could change if rain doesn't fall soon.
Parts of central Minnesota and northern Wisconsin already are listed in a severe drought -- from roughly the Twin Cities thorough Rice Lake to Mellen, Wis. -- while other areas are listed as in a moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Douglas and Pine counties in the Northland are listed as abnormally dry, and it's expected more counties may make the list next week if substantial rain doesn't fall.
Since April 1, when precipitation could begin soaking into the ground, Duluth is 2.5 inches below normal for rainfall.
