DNR conservation officer dies in northern Minnesota crash

Update: The DNR late Monday identified the conservation officer as 39-year-old Sarah Grell, a mother of three. You can read about Grell here. The original story from earlier Monday is below.

A conservation officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) died Monday in a northern Minnesota crash.

The DNR said in an announcement the conservation officer was involved in a two-vehicle wreck Monday morning near Grand Rapids. The agency provided few other details, only saying the officer's death was "in the line of duty."

The DNR is withholding the officer's name as their family members are notified. 

"The DNR has expressed its deepest condolences to the officer’s family for this tragic loss, and our staff are mourning the loss of one of our own," the agency's announcement said.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol's incident report, the crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. at County Road 336 and County Road 57, in Lawrence Township.

A Chevy Silverado was traveling north on 336, with a semi traveling east on 57. In the intersection, the same came into contact with the driver's side door of the Chevy. The driver of the pickup - a 39-year-old woman from Cohasset, whose name has not been released - suffered fatal injuries in the wreck.

The driver of the semi was a 42-year-old from Grand Rapids. His condition was not noted.

Conservation officers are assigned to different areas of the state, and do a combination of public safety, natural resources and recreation-related enforcement work.