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Grand Rapids man dies after tanker truck rolls over, catches fire

NEW INDEPENDENCE, Minn. -- Police say a man died Saturday afternoon when his tanker rolled over and caught on fire north of Duluth.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a tractor-trailer hauling a tanker was driving northbound on Minnesota Highway 33 in St. Louis County shortly before 1 p.m.

The driver, 31-year-old Xavier Henson, was unable to negotiate the curve at the junction with U.S. Highway 53. The truck left the roadway, overturned and caught fire.

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Oscar Saralampi

Authorities asked people to avoid the area while crews fought the fire.

The highways reopened to regular traffic around 4 p.m. but some emergency crews remained on the scene into the evening, according to the Grand Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

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