19-year-old dies after vehicle crashes into Mississippi River

A 19-year-old man died early Sunday morning after a single-vehicle crash that caused the vehicle to leave the road and crash into the Mississippi River in Big Lake Township, according to Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott.

At around 1:40 a.m., driver Dashon James Rodriguez, 19, and passenger Devin Michael Moksnes, 22, were driving and missed a 90-degree curve as Rodriguez was going at a high rate of speed westbound in the 15500 block of Sherburne County Road 30, said Brott.

The vehicle went down an embankment and into the Mississippi River. Moksnes was able to survive and swim to shore. He went to a nearby house for help, but by the time deputies were able to locate the vehicle in 11 feet of water, Rodriguez was still inside and pronounced dead, said the sheriff.

Moksnes sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.