Paynesville man dies after hitting deer with motorcycle

PAYNESVILLE -- The name of the 21-year-old Paynesville man killed in a motorcycle-deer accident Friday night has been released by the Stearns County Sheriff's office.

Mitchell Callenius Tokach died at the scene of the crash, along Stearns County Road 123 in Eden Lake Township. The county communications center received a 911 call around 11:23 p.m. Friday alerting officials to the accident. Tokach was eastbound on a 2007 Kawasaki ZX 600 when he struck a deer, lost control of the cycle and was thrown off, according to a news release from Sheriff John Sanner.

Emergency medical procedures were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the sheriff's office.

Also responding to the scene were Paynesville Fire and Rescue Squad, Paynesville Ambulance and Life Link Air Ambulance.