While there are many bicycle accidents throughout Minnesota, and a number of them involving children, fatalities are not as rare as the severe injuries that can exist.
In this case, a 13-year-old boy from Winthrop died on September 15 after he was struck by a semi while riding his bike on Highway 15, according to the Minnesota State patrol.
Jacob W. Weber was with a group of juveniles that were riding their bikes northbound on the two-lane highway at approximately 2:30 p.m. when Weber suddenly left the shoulder of the road and into the path of a 2007 Mack tractor-trailer. The semi struck the boy.
The Winthrop Fire Department, Sibley County Sheriff’s Office, Winthrop Ambulance, and Life Link all responded to the accident, transporting Weber to Hennepin County Medical Center. His injuries were critical, but he was still alive at the time of transport. He passed away at 11:40 a.m. on the 16th.
The family said that Jacob died doing what he loved to do and they made the decision to donate any organs that could be potentially used in transplants.
Andrew C. Damhof, 23, and the driver of the truck was not injured in the accident. Alcohol was also not a factor in the crash.
