One person died Thursday in a tragic accident near the intersection of Highway #32 and East Greenwood in Thief River Falls.

According to Police Chief Kim Murphy, 68 year old Wayne Konickson of Grygla, a passenger in a North Bound Chrysler Van, died after the vehicle collided with a southbound Northwest Beverage Truck – the accident reported at 3pm Thursday afternoon.

The driver of the van, Konickson’s wife – 72 year old Marie Konickson, suffered serious injuries – she was taken by ambulance to Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Although badly shaken up, Chief Murphy says the driver of the truck, 39 year old Steven Kloety of Thief River Falls, was evaluated by rescue workers and released at the scene.

According to their Preliminary Investigation, Murphy says it appears Marie may have fallen asleep at the wheel, the van drifting across the center line into the path of the on-coming truck. Murphy says Kloety did everything he could to avoid the accident, braking and moving to the right, the van striking the truck behind the driver’s side door.

Chief Murphy says State Patrol crews will be working on a reconstruction of the accident. Officers were assisted at the scene by the Thief River Falls Fire Department.