South Harbor Township, Minnesota, a sunny Sunday morning turned tragic on August 17, 2025, when a devastating head-on collision claimed the life of a Big Lake man and left two others injured along Highway 169. The crash, unfolding just before noon near milepost 218 by Tamarac Road, has left a community in mourning and authorities piecing together the events that led to this heart-wrenching loss.
At the center of the tragedy was 69-year-old Donald George Goerisch of Big Lake, driving a 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer southbound on the open highway. For reasons yet to be fully determined, Goerisch’s vehicle veered across the centerline, crossing into the path of an oncoming 2020 Honda Ridgeline pickup. The impact was catastrophic, a head-on collision that left no room for escape. Goerisch, unrestrained by a seat belt despite the deployment of airbags, succumbed to his injuries at the scene, his life cut short in an instant.
In the Honda Ridgeline, 79-year-old Richard Christ Lang and his 62-year-old passenger, Mary Beth Lick, both from Excelsior, were fortunate to survive, though not without significant cost. Both were wearing seat belts, a factor that likely spared their lives, but they sustained serious injuries. Emergency responders acted swiftly, airlifting Lang to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale and Lick to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. Authorities have described their injuries as serious but non-life-threatening, offering a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy.
The Minnesota State Patrol, leading the response, reported that the crash occurred under clear, dry road conditions, ruling out environmental factors. Alcohol is not suspected to have played a role, leaving investigators to probe deeper into what caused Goerisch’s vehicle to drift into the northbound lane. The scene was a flurry of activity as the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, Onamia Ambulance, Onamia Fire Department, North Air, and Lifelink Air rallied to assist, their efforts a testament to the community’s resilience in the face of sudden loss.
As the investigation continues, questions linger about what led to this fateful moment. Was it a lapse in attention, a mechanical failure, or something else entirely? For now, the answers remain elusive, but the impact of this tragedy resonates deeply. A life was lost, two others were forever changed, and a quiet stretch of Highway 169 became the stage for a heartrending reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of vigilance on the road.