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Best Friends Killed In Pierz Truck Rollover Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's been a terrible weekend on Minnesota roads. At least seven people have been killed in motor vehicle accidents.

Among those killed are two young men described as best friends in Pierz. Nathan Brill, 24, and 25-year-old Nicholas Kroll, died when their truck left a rural Morrison County road early Saturday morning. Their deaths hit a small town especially hard.

Yellow and white balloons line the main drag of downtown Pierz. The symbol of sadness for the loss of two best friends. Nathan Brill and Nicholas died in a tragic rollover crash less than a mile from home.

"I just got done drying corn, everything shut off and heard something, came here and called 911," Scott Gall said.

Farmer Scott Gall was coming in from drying corn early Saturday morning when he heard the crash. He and a buddy called 911 and then rushed to help.

"He started CPR and I called 911," Gall said.

Rescue crews attempted to revive the two men, who were ejected from the truck. But both died at the scene.

Investigators don't know what caused the truck to cross the centerline on this straight, wide open road. Possibly, they swerved to avoid a deer, went down in the ditch and rolled.

"Oh yea, a lot of deer around, but it's too bad," Gall said.

Friends of the men recall inseparable buddies who worked hard and played harder. And would drop what they were doing to lend a hand to others. Now remembered down a small town street by the colors of the trucks they drove.

Because both were ejected investigators believe neither man was wearing a seat belt. Blood alcohol tests have not been released, so there's no indication if alcohol played a role in the crash.

In the meantime, this weekend's seven fatalities push the state closer to last year's pace, which was a sudden jump after years of declining fatal accidents.

The crash is under investigation. Anyone with information on it is asked to call 320-632-9233.

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