Two killed in head-on crash between two motorcycles

INDEPENDENCE, Minn. (AP) — A former fire chief of Long Lake is among two men killed in a head-on crash between two motorcycles in Independence on Wednesday morning.

Authorities said the recently retired Mike Brown and four of his friends were on their way out of town on an annual bike trip out west when the crash happened about 6:30 a.m.

Less than 10 minutes into their trip, a motorcycle driven by 51-year-old Gary Arens, of Watertown, tried to pass a truck and veered into the oncoming lane. He hit the 65-year-old Brown, the lead motorcyclist in the group.

Both men died at the scene.

Authorities said Arens was driving aggressively prior to the crash, and had been seen pulling out and passing several vehicles.

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