DULUTH, Minn. — Several Duluth-area fire departments will stage an elaborate sendoff Monday for a firefighter who is being flown to a specialty rehab facility in Colorado after being struck by a hit-and-run driver.
The Duluth Fire Department (DFD) says 24-year-old Ray Skoglund will fly to Denver in a special medical transport plane, where he will receive advanced physical therapy for injuries that include broken limbs, broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, facial injuries and a brain injury. Craig Hospital is a neurorehabilitation center specializing in advanced neurorehabilitative care.
Members of the Duluth and Hermantown Fire Departments, Duluth Police and the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing will be on hand with a large US flag at Duluth International Airport to embrace Skoglund as he departs. The flight is scheduled to take off at 11:45 a.m.
Skoglund is a member of both the DFD and 148th Fighter Wing.
“We are honored to support the Skoglund family through their darkest hours and look forward to standing by Ray during his continued recovery,” said Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj. “We can’t wait to welcome Ray and his family back when he can walk into Headquarters and hopefully take his place on 1 Engine.”
Skoglund was out for a run on Jan. 25 when he was struck by a motorist, who then fled the scene. Investigators eventually identified and arrested 88-year-old Ronald Gene Myrdahl, who is charged with criminal vehicular operation. A criminal complaint says Myrdahl admitted to hitting something that night after forgetting to turn his lights on.
Northern News Now reports that officers found Skoglund unconscious and barely breathing. He was later taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for his “serious and significant” injuries.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
