Two Waterville Area Men Die in ATV Accident

The Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department reports two young men were killed early Thursday morning in an ATV accident near Waterville.

The call came in about 4:33AM just east of Waterville off Sakatah Lake Road. A guest at Kamp Dels, which is across the street from where the accident occurred, phoned authorities after her husband investigated a loud noise she had heard. Upon hearing the noise, she woke up her husband who took a flashlight and went out to investigate. He discovered the ATV running with its lights on and while flashing the light around found the two bodies.

The sheriff's office says 18-year-old Zachary Paulson of Kilkenny and 24-year-old Derek Brandvold of Waterville were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities say the driver of the ATV apparently lost control and he and the passenger were thrown from the machine into the lake. They are unsure who was driving.

The Le Seuer County Sheriff's Department is saying preliminary reports indicate no helmets were worn and speed was a factor. The investigation into the accident continues. Both victims were transported to the Ramsey County Coroner's office in St. Paul where autopsy reports are pending.