Pedestrian, 34, dies after being struck by semi-trailer on Hwy. 12
A 34-year-old Cokato man was killed when he was struck by a semi-trailer on Highway 12 in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The incident was reported around 2:30 a.m. on the highway at Morrison Avenue Southwest in Cokato Township, Wright County.
The Minnesota State Patrol a Kenworth semi pulling a grain hopper trailer was headed eastbound in the right lane of the two-lane highway.
The pedestrian, identified as Jacob Merges, was "standing in the lane directly in the path of vehicle," police say. The driver took an evasive maneuver and hit the brakes, but ultimately hit Merges.
He died at the scene despite the lifesaving efforts of first responders.