Autopsy shows skier died of blunt impact injuries

Sheriff's officials say the cross-country skier found dead by a snowmobiler in Bayfield County last month died shortly after he was struck by a vehicle.

Bjorn Erik Norgaard, 23, of Dundas, Minn., was killed Feb. 20 while skiing on a trail from Washburn to Ashland.

The Bayfield County Sheriff's Department says a preliminary autopsy report indicates Norgaard died of traumatic head injuries within minutes of being hit.

Several hours after his body was found, a 16-year-old rural Washburn boy went to police and identified himself as the driver who struck the skier.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

The Daily Press says sheriff's investigators are waiting for toxicology tests on the teen before sending the case to the district attorney.

Norgaard was a 2010 graduate of Northland College in Ashland.

---

Information from: The Daily Press

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)