Monticello man, 44, killed in crash with big rig in Becker

BECKER — A 44-year-old Monticello man was killed in a crash Tuesday evening involving a semi-trailer truck on Highway 10 in Becker.

Derrick Ray Sartwell, 44, of Monticello, suffered fatal injuries after his pickup truck rear-ended a big rig just after 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The 2023 International LT semi-truck was westbound on Highway 10, in the left turn lane, making a left turn onto Liberty Lane when it was rear-ended by the 2012 Ford F150 pickup, the accident report said.

The Ford, driven by Sartwell, was westbound on Highway 10 in the right lane approaching Liberty Lane/Rolling Ridge Road when the patrol says it veered left into the rear of the trailer being pulled by the International.

Sartwell, the sole occupant of the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The semi-truck driver, Ejup Kraine, 67, of Coralville, Iowa, was not injured, the patrol said, and he was wearing his seat belt at the time.

It is not known if Sartwell was wearing his seat belt. Road conditions were dry at the time, the patrol reported.

Members of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, Becker County Police Department and Becker Fire Department all responded to the scene.