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Two lives lost in separate crashes

Subhead
Carlson dies in motorcycle crash north of Luverne; Conklin dies in Nobles County rollover
By
Lori Sorenson

It was a deadly week on southwest Minnesota roadways with two fatal crashes involving Rock County residents.
Luverne’s Chad H. Carlson, 39, died in a motorcycle crash north of Luverne Sunday afternoon, April 3, and 34-year-old Aaron Conklin of Magnolia was killed in a Nobles County crash Thursday, March 31.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Carlson lost control of his 2006 Honda motorcycle one-half mile north of Luverne on Highway 75.
The report states that he was southbound on Highway 75 when he lost control and put the motorcycle down.
He died from his injuries shortly after the crash occurred around 2:45 p.m.
The report states that Carlson was the only one involved in the crash and that he was not wearing a helmet.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Rock County Ambulance and a medical helicopter assisted at the scene.
Carlson worked at American Tire, Sioux Falls, and according to his friends, one of his greatest joys was riding his motorcycle.
Carlson, a 1995 Luverne High School graduate, is the son of Roger Carlson, Luverne, and the late Gloria Carlson.
He leaves behind a daughter, Kaitlyn Carlson, an eighth-grader in Ellsworth Public School.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.
According to information from the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office, Conklin was involved in a crash that occurred at County Road 15 and 140th Street near St. Kilian.
According to the initial complaint report at the dispatch office, the crash was reported at 10:23 p.m. Thursday, March 31.
The report states that Conklin was driving a 2002 blue Saturn SL. It was reportedly a single-vehicle rollover accident and he was not wearing a seatbelt.
The Nobles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash. The Wilmont Ambulance Service and first responders assisted at the scene.
According to his family members, Conklin enjoyed working on cars, fishing, cooking, reading and learning.
He leaves behind a 17-year-old son, Donovan Conklin, a student in Luverne High School, and his mother, Frances Conklin, Magnolia.
Dingmann Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements, and family members gathered Sunday for a private memorial service.

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