A Brainerd man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Crow Wing County on Friday evening.

The Minnesota State Patrol reports that 56-year-old William J. Gardner was driving a 2004 Honda Civic when he crashed on Highway 18 in Oak Lawn Township.

The crash report says Gardner was traveling west on Highway 18, to the east of County Road 144, when he went off the road and struck a tree.

Gardner died at the scene. He was wearing his seatbelt, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash, the State Patrol says.

Traffic deaths are down this year in Minnesota. According to the state's Office of Traffic Safety, there were 324 deaths on Minnesota roads through Nov. 7. At the same point last year, there had been 402 deaths, with the total in 2024 reaching 477 deaths.

Note: The details provided in t

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