Man Dies After Two-Vehicle Crash on Highway 33 in Industrial Township

A passenger in a Ford Edge died after that vehicle was struck from behind by a Jeep Grand Cherokee on northbound Highway 33 at Industrial Road in Industrial Township, St. Louis County. The Minnesota State Patrol identified the fatality as 61-year-old Gary Wayne McQuillian of Cloquet; two other occupants of the Ford were taken to hospitals, one with life-threatening injuries.

The crash occurred on January 30 around 11 a.m. while both vehicles were traveling northbound in the left lane, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Investigators say the Jeep struck the rear of the Ford Edge; the Jeep’s driver, described in initial reports as a Chisholm man and the vehicle’s sole occupant, was not injured. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collision.

State patrol records and emergency response notes show the three people in the Ford Edge were transported to hospitals. The driver, identified as 61-year-old Sanna McQuillian of Cloquet, was later reported to be hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. A third occupant, 39-year-old Derek Frykman of Cloquet, was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. Initial State Patrol statements described the occupants’ injuries as non-life-threatening, and later updates revised that assessment as medical information changed.

First responders dispatched a large emergency presence to the scene, blocking both lanes of Highway 33 and rerouting traffic between Saginaw and Independence while crews worked. Local emergency agencies and tow services were on scene; the roadway disruption served as a reminder of how single crashes can cascade into regional traffic and access problems on two-lane rural corridors.

Beyond the immediate tragedy, the collision raises public health and community questions familiar across St. Louis County. Rural crashes place heavy demands on volunteer and career EMS crews, and longer transport times to trauma-capable hospitals can affect outcomes. Public health officials and transportation planners point to prevention measures - from seatbelt use and speed enforcement to roadway design and funding for timely ambulance coverage - as ways to reduce fatal and severe collisions, though specific contributing factors in this crash have not been released.

The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation and has not released details about impairment, speed, or restraint use. Family notifications and hospital confirmations remain pending as medical privacy rules permit. Residents traveling north of Duluth should expect periodic lane closures while authorities complete their work and follow official travel advisories.

This collision is a stark reminder of the stakes on rural stretches of Highway 33 and the importance of coordinated emergency response, trauma access, and prevention efforts. The State Patrol has said it will provide updates as the investigation proceeds; local health and public safety leaders say they will use such incidents to press for resources that can prevent future losses and better support families affected by roadway trauma.