Thief River Falls: Pickup Hits 2 Parked Vehicles

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A pickup crash in a school parking lot damaged three vehicles, police said.

What happened

Police received the report at 12:28 p.m. on Dec. 22.

The crash happened in the parking lot at Challenger Elementary School in Thief River Falls.

The school is located at 601 County Road 61, according to the district.

Police say Jonason Coakley of Thief River Falls was driving a 2012 Dodge 1500 pickup.

The report says Coakley lost control while turning west into the lot.

The pickup struck a parked 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, police said.

The Suburban is owned by Tevia Strand of Thief River Falls, according to the report.

The impact pushed Strand’s Suburban into another parked vehicle.

That vehicle was a 2017 Ford F-150 owned by Waylon Hirst of St. Hilaire.

Both parked vehicles were unoccupied at the time, police said.

Police said there were no known injuries.

The report did not list a damage estimate.

The report did not say if citations were issued.

Parking lots near schools can be busy during the day.

Drivers often face tight turns and parked cars.

Safety groups say many crashes happen in parking areas.

The National Safety Council urges drivers to slow down and stay alert.

Drivers should avoid distraction when turning or backing.

Minnesota drivers can review state guidance through Driver and Vehicle Services.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation also posts driver resources online at MnDOT.

Anyone involved in a crash should document damage and share insurance details.

People should report injuries right away and call for help when needed.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.

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