INDEPENDENCE, MN – Authorities released more information about the fatal accident yesterday that involved several motorcycles on Hennepin County Road 6 and County Road 90.

“An eastbound motorcycle driven by Gary Arens, 51 from Watertown pulled out into the westbound lane of traffic to pass a pickup truck and struck a westbound motorcycle driven by Michael Brown, 65, from Long Lake,” reported director Ray McCoy of West Hennepin Public Safety. The motorcycles collided head-on in the westbound lane of County Road 6, killing both drivers. Brown was thrown onto the shoulder of the eastbound lane and was struck by another vehicle.

Previous to the crash, Arens was witnessed to be driving aggressively, pulling out and passing several eastbound vehicles, McCoy said. Brown was traveling with a group of five motorcyclists who were headed out of state for their annual motorcycle trip. Brown was the lead rider, McCoy said.

The crash took place around 6:38 a.m. Maple Plain Fire Rescue and North Memorial Ambulance Care unit responded to the scene. WHPS was assisted by Orono, Medina, Mound, Minnetrista Police Departments, and Hennepin County Crime Lab at the scene of the crash. County Road 90 was closed down and traffic diverted for approximately 3 hours.

WHPS is investigating the accident with the aid of MN State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Unit.