Man killed, woman severely hurt in central Minnesota UTV crash, state patrol says

A man is dead and a woman is fighting for her life after a UTV rollover crash Sunday in central Minnesota, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The crash involving a Polaris RANGER XD occurred just before 8 p.m. on northbound Highway 28 near 20th Avenue in Culdrum Township, about 50 miles northwest of St. Cloud.

"While negotiating a left curve, the UTV ran off the roadway to the right. The Polaris impacted a driveway approach and rolled," the state patrol said.

The driver, 44-year-old Eric John Spaeth, was killed in the crash. His 45-year-old passenger, Nicole Lea Spaeth, survived with life-threatening injuries. Both are from Long Prairie, Minnesota.

The state patrol says neither were wearing seat belts during the crash, and it's unclear if alcohol played a role in this tragedy.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 12 people have been killed so far this year in off-highway vehicle crashes.