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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 4/18/2013
SUBJECT: 2nd Update: Recent Traffic Fatality
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen (218) 390-2232

NATURE OF INCIDENT: 2nd Update: Recent Traffic Fatality
CASE NO.: 13069381
INCIDENT DATE: 4/12/2013
INCIDENT TIME: 2:38 PM
INCIDENT LOCATION: Jean Duluth Road & Carroll Street

On Friday, April 12th, 2013 at 2:38 PM Duluth Police responded to a traffic accident with injuries at Jean Duluth Road and Carroll Street.

Initial investigation revealed that a Chevy Trailblazer SUV traveling southbound on Jean Duluth Road spun sideways and into an oncoming northbound International tow truck. A 39 year old female occupant of the SUV was killed. An adult male occupant of the SUV was killed. A 45 year old male driver of the tow truck was taken to Essentia St. Mary’s hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 
Names of the deceased will be released pending full family notifications. 
Jean Duluth Road is currently blocked off at Martin Road on the north side and Everett Street on the south side as Duluth Police continue to investigate the accident. People that live on Claymore Street & Pleasant view Avenue may access their addresses from above.  The Duluth Police Department is asking the public to remain away from this area until the roadways is re-opened.
Since Thursday, April 11th 2013 the Duluth Police Department has responded to over forty accidents, two resulting in injuries and one resulting in a double fatality. We strongly urge drivers to continue to  USE CAUTION as some roadways still have snow/slush covered slippery area's which are making driving conditions dangerous.
UPDATE:
Duluth Police have identified the two victims who died in Friday’s fatal crash as follows:
  • The driver of SUV - Susan Jean Schmitt, a 39 year old female resident of Two Harbors, MN.
  • The passenger in the SUV - Jeremy Michael Bohlin, a 36 year old male resident of Duluth, MN.
The driver of the tow truck was Daniel John Rabold, a 45 year old male resident of Duluth who has been treated and released from the Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital.
2nd UPDATE:
The preliminary results of the investigation into this incident have determined that the road conditions at the time of the crash were the primary contributing factor for this crash. The driving lanes of this road were generally clear with spots of slush accumulating on center line and shoulder of the road. Susan Schmitt’s vehicle traveled into an area of the road where slush had accumulated causing the vehicle to lose control, spin out and cross over into the on-coming lane of travel where it was struck by the northbound tow truck. 
Neither Susan Schmitt nor Jeremy Bohlin were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver of the tow truck Daniel Rabold was wearing his seatbelt.
Toxicology reports are pending in this case and the final results of the investigation are pending.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Duluth Police Department Crash Investigator Ryan Morris at (218) 730-5655. This is an active investigation. No further information is available at this time.