Crash near Spicer, Minn. kills Norwegian judge

A two-car crash east of Spicer has killed an appeals court judge from Norway and his passenger.

According to Kandiyohi County Judge Donald Spilseth, Jan Martin Flod, 63, was on his way Tuesday morning to the courthouse in Willmar to watch interpreters in Spilseth's courtroom.

But a pickup struck Flod's car on County Road 4 and County Road 10 at 9:15 a.m. The pickup's driver was not transported for medical attention.

The county medical examiner's office reports that Flod's passenger, Tove Sleppen, 51, also from Norway, died early Wednesday.

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The West Central Tribune reports the judges became friends after Flod observed trial court activities in Spilseth's courtroom in 2001.

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Information from: West Central Tribune

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