Spang Township (trfnews.i234.me) — A Warroad man died Thursday evening after his dirt bike struck a deer on Highway 169 in Itasca County.
The crash happened at 7:37 p.m. on May 21, 2026.
The Minnesota State Patrol said the crash occurred on northbound Highway 169 near County Road 450.
The site is in Spang Township, north of the Hill City area.
Rider Identified
The driver was identified as Mark Russell Smith, 66, of Warroad, Minnesota.
Smith was riding a 2021 USA Motortoys FSE 250CC E.
Authorities said he was traveling north when the dirt bike struck a deer in the road.
Smith suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
No health care facility was listed in the report.
The State Patrol said Smith was wearing a helmet.
Alcohol was not suspected.
Road Conditions Were Dry
Road conditions were reported as dry at the time of the crash.
The crash involved one vehicle.
Airbag deployment was listed as not applicable.
Seat belt use was also listed as not applicable.
The Minnesota State Patrol listed the report as complete.
The report was last updated at 10:41 p.m. on May 21, 2026.
Emergency Response
Several agencies responded to the crash scene.
They included Itasca County, Hill City Police, North EMS, North Air, Grand Rapids Fire Department, and Hill City Fire Department.
No other injuries were listed in the report.
Drivers can view official crash reports through the Minnesota State Patrol crash updates page.
Motorists can also check current road conditions through Minnesota 511.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also shares safety information about deer and wildlife in Minnesota.
The fatal crash remains listed under Minnesota State Patrol incident number 26310608.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
