Man dead after pickup goes into Mississippi River

BEMIDJI, Minn. (KFGO) — A man is dead after the pickup he was driving went into the Mississippi River near Bemidji Friday afternoon.

Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs says the pickup went off the road and drove through a yard before going into the river around 4:45 p.m. Bystanders tried to get the man out of the vehicle, but were unable to before the pickup sank.

Lakes Area Dive Team recovered the man’s body around 6:30 p.m. His name is not being released until family is notified. The sheriff’s department is investigating why the pickup went off the road.

Bemidji Police, Lakes Area Dive Team, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Bemidji Fire Department, and North Country First Responders all were on scene.