CROSSLAKE — The victim and driver involved in a fatal pedestrian crash early Sunday, July 5, near The Wharf bar and restaurant have been identified by the Crosslake Police Department.
Devin C. R. Sawvel, 27, Brainerd, died after being struck by a vehicle driven by 63-year-old Leslie F. Mahowald on County Highway 16. According to a news release, Sawvel was in the middle of the eastbound traffic lane as Mahowald was traveling east at the 13000 block.
Officers were dispatched at 2:06 a.m. and found Sawvel dead in the roadway when they arrived. Mahowald remained on scene and was cooperative with the investigation.
Mahowald is the owner of Shuttle Five LLC, which operates a safe ride shuttle service in Crosslake under a U.S. Department of Transportation license to transport passengers. According to USDOT, no crashes of any kind have been reported for the business in the past 24 months.
The Crosslake Police Department was assisted by the Crosslake Fire Department, Breezy Point Police Department, Nisswa Police Department, Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota State Patrol.
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We've partnered with ICTV to interview local candidates for the 2026 election. District 1 is in northwestern Itasca County, and three candidates are headed to a primary.
