15-year-old riding dirt bike to see friend dies in crash with truck, MN family says

A 15-year-old boy died in a collision with a pickup truck as he rode his dirt bike to visit a friend, according to Minnesota police and the boy’s family.

Artem Sandulyak died at the scene following the Jan. 12 crash in Blaine, his hometown, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said he was riding his bike on Sunset Avenue Northeast when he crashed into a pickup truck that was turning. The driver and passenger in the truck were not injured.

“Artem was on his way to visit a friend, doing what he loved most — riding his dirt bike,” family said in a GoFundMe. “He had a passion for the outdoors and lived every moment to the fullest.”

The crash remained under investigation as of Jan. 14, according to the sheriff’s office. The 50-year-old driver of the pickup truck has not been charged.

Loved ones said in an obituary that Artem was a “bright young man with an infectious smile and a personality that lit up any room.” He was known for his “boundless energy” and “brought joy to everyone around him.”

“Artem’s light shined so brightly, and his absence leaves a void that words cannot express,” according to the GoFundMe.

Blaine is about a 15-mile drive north from Minneapolis.

This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM with the headline "15-year-old riding dirt bike to see friend dies in crash with truck, MN family says."