Music: {allcanada} BYFUGLIEN'S UNCLE KILLED IN ATV ACCIDENT

Thursday, December 6, 2012

{allcanada} BYFUGLIEN'S UNCLE KILLED IN ATV ACCIDENT

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The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports an uncle of professional hockey star and Roseau native Dustin Byfuglien was killed while riding an ATV on a highway frontage road in the far northern Minnesota town, authorities and family said Wednesday.

Don A. Byfuglien, 53, died after the recreational vehicle he was operating hit a car Tuesday afternoon on the north frontage road for Hwy. 11, according to the State Patrol.

He was thrown from the four-wheeler. He had on no restraint devices and no helmet, the patrol said. Court records show him being ticketed twice three days apart in April 2011 for failure wear a seat belt.

The car's driver, Joann J. Eisele, 51, of Middle River, Minn., was not hurt.

Don Byfuglien took the side-by-side Polaris Ranger from the shop to run a quick errand for a mechanic at D & E Sports when he was hit, said Dale Smedsmo, who owns the dealership and is the longtime boyfriend of Dustin Byfuglien's mother.

"He was running to get a pop for one of our mechanics," Smedsmo said. "He just came across the road, and [the car] pulled out in front of him."

Don Byfuglien was returning from the hardware store on the south side of the highway, according to the patrol. When the off-road vehicle reached the frontage road north of the highway, it struck an eastbound car that had just left a car wash.

The crash occurred about a half-mile from a Polaris manufacturing plant, a major employer in the small town with a rich high school hockey heritage.

"Donny probably had more friends in Roseau than most people," Smedsmo said. "He was really good friends with my mechanics. He hung around here, and when someone needed a helping hand, he'd chip in."