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Two killed in accident near Tower

Snow and icy road conditions led to a fatal accident west of Tower Thursday afternoon. 

According to the State Patrol, two people were killed when a vehicle lost control and was struck by a truck on Highway 169 near Tarkman Road at 4:29 p.m.

A 2009 Ford Fusion was northbound on Highway 169 and Tarkman Road when it lost control, veered into the southbound lane and was struck by a 2014 GMC Sierra Pickup.

The driver of the Fusion was April Lynn Pecchia, age 35 of Eveleth. She and her 11 year-old passenger died from injuries sustained in the accident. Pecchia was wearing a seatbelt. The State Patrol did not initially release information on the passenger in the car.

The driver of the truck, Frank Joseph Sopp, age 69, of Virginia, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Essentia Virginia. Sopp was wearing a seatbelt.

According to the State Patrol, air bags deployed in both vehicles and alcohol was not a factor in the accident. 

Responding to the accident, which shut down the highway for several hours, were the St. Louis County Sheriff’s office, Breitung Police Department, DNR, Tower, Virginia and Vermilion Fire and Virginia Ambulance. 

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