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Tristan Channing Secor

Age : 19

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/22/2023

Location : Jefferson Avenue SW and Division Street

City : Bemidji

County : Beltrami

State : Minnesota

Agency : Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash after attempted stop for speeding

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/22/2023, at approximately 11:20 p.m., a Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on routine patrol traveling east on Carr Lake Road SW in Bemidji Township when the deputy saw a group of motorcycles turn west onto Carr Lake Road SW from Washington Avenue South. According to Sheriff Jason Riggs, the motorcycles accelerated to more than 70 mph in a posted 55-mph zone.
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The deputy turned around and attempted to stop the motorcycles for speeding, activating the patrol vehicle's emergency lights and siren. The deputy pursued the motorcycles and eventually traveled north on Jefferson Avenue SW. By that point, only one motorcycle remained visible to the pursuing deputy. The rider was 19-year-old Tristan Channing Secor of Bemidji.
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As the pursuit reached the U.S. Highway 2 overpass on Jefferson Avenue, a second Beltrami County deputy observed Secor's motorcycle traveling at more than 100 mph. Secor's motorcycle was increasing its distance from the pursuing deputy.
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As Secor approached the roundabout at Jefferson Avenue SW and Division Street, the pursuing deputy lost sight of his motorcycle. Shortly afterward, deputies located the crashed motorcycle north of the roundabout.
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Deputies and a Minnesota State Patrol trooper found Secor in the grassy area of the roundabout and immediately began lifesaving measures. Emergency medical personnel and a medical helicopter were requested, but the helicopter was unable to respond because of weather conditions.
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Secor was transported by ambulance to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash. Reporting based on the crash report states that Secor was wearing a helmet.
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The Minnesota State Patrol investigated the fatal crash. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office was also assisted at the scene by the Bemidji Police Department and Bemidji Ambulance Service.
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The initiating reason for the attempted traffic stop was specifically documented as speeding: the deputy observed the motorcycles accelerate beyond 70 mph in a 55-mph zone before turning around, activating emergency equipment and beginning the pursuit.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office deputy who initiated and continued the pursuit was not identified in the available reporting. A second Beltrami County deputy observed Secor traveling at more than 100 mph at the Highway 2 overpass but was likewise not identified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.startribune.com/speeding-motorcyclist-crashes-dies-after-pursuit-by-deputy-near-bemidji/600299369/
https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/08/24/beltrami-co-pursuit-ends-deadly-motorcycle-crash/
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/motorcyclist-dead-after-pursuit-crash-near-bemidji/89-51d9f99f-fa3b-40a2-b195-91c63ca30c32
https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/19-year-old-bemidji-man-dies-in-motorcycle-accident
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/pursuit-in-bemidji-leads-to-fatal-motorcycle-crash/
https://lptv.org/19-year-old-man-killed-in-motorcycle-crash-in-bemidji/