Avid runner and cyclist, Mark Knutson, killed by a vehicle while biking on South Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes on July 9

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Avid runner and cyclist Mark Knutson, general manager for Detroit Mountain, was killed by a vehicle while he was riding his bike on South Shore Drive on Sunday morning.

According to the Detroit Lakes Police Department, on July 9 at 7:06 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of a collision between a bicycle and a pickup truck towing a boat and trailer on the 1100 block of South Shore Drive, west of Muir Lane.

Upon arrival, first responders attempted lifesaving measures on the 53-year-old Knutson and he was airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo where he was later pronounced dead.

Police stated Knutson was traveling westbound on the roadway and was struck by a westbound pickup driven by 42-year-old Jacob Grabowski of Fargo.

No criminal charges have been filed and the incident remains under an active investigation.

Knutson was a prominent organizer of outdoor recreation events, including the Tour Da Lakes and Dick Beardsley Races, in the lakes area and in greater west-central Minnesota. He became the general manager of Detroit Mountain in 2022 and reinvigorated the city’s winter ski destination as an all-season location with events and community gatherings to be held year-round.