A Forest Lake Area High School senior was hospitalized with severe head and neck injuries after an accident that ripped her pickup truck in half on the 11th Avenue bridge in Forest Lake.
According to reports from the Minnesota State Patrol and police reports, Jessica Erickson, 18, of Forest Lake, was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck east on the 11th Avenue/County Road 83 bridge shortly before 8 a.m. on Nov. 6. The bridge was covered in ice, and Erickson lost control of the vehicle and drove it into the path of a westbound Volvo XC90 SUV. The SUV t-boned the truck, tearing it in half. The cab of the pickup flipped over, seriously injuring Erickson, who was wearing a seatbelt. She was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale. The SUV’s driver, Catherine Walker, 53, of Forest Lake, received a non-life threatening injury.
According to CaringBridge posts from family members, Erickson was placed in intensive care and underwent surgery the day of the accident to alleviate swelling and bleeding of the brain. As of press time, she was still in unconscious, according to the CaringBridge reports. The family is providing daily updates at caringbridge.org/visit/jessicaerickson.
Erickson is a member of the Ranger girls basketball team. Classmates and opponents reached out on social media to share well wishes and prayers for her. Even a Twitter account for the Chisago Lakes girls basketball team tweeted, “Thoughts and prayers for @FLRANGERS #30,” referencing Erickson’s jersey number.
“She’s a great kid, an honor student, and she’s just a joy to have in class as a teacher,” said Forest Lake Area Schools Athletic Director Aaron Forsythe.