Fatal ATV accident near Barnum

On July 19, 2023 at 7:52 P.M., the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an ATV crash in the 3500 Block of Pine Road in Barnum Township. A motorist came upon the crash and dialed 911.

Carlton County Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with members of the Barnum Fire Department, Blackhoof Fire Department and Essentia Moose Lake EMS.

According to a news release from the Sheriff's Office, the initial investigation revealed an adult male was driving an ATV northbound on Pine Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. Paul Douglas Nelson, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. It is not clear what caused the ATV to leave the roadway.

The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office also received assistance from the Moose Lake Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

The crash remains under investigation by the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office.