Hazelhurst man dies in Willow Flowage accident

A Hazelhurst man died Tuesday after he was run over by a pickup truck on the Willow Flowage in Little Rice.

According to a press release from Tyler Young, patrol captain with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Randall Bernau, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Upon investigation, it was determined that the vehicle became stuck on the ice in heavy snow and wind during white out conditions,” Young said in the press release. 

He said Bernau got onto the bumper of the 2018 Nissan Titan “in an attempt to gain better traction” for the Titan’s driver, Jeffrey Larson, 69, Irma. 

At some point, Young said Bernau fell off the bumper and was run over by the truck as it was backing up.

Alcohol and recklessness were determined not to be factors and Young said no charges related to the incident were referred to the district attorney’s office.

“This was a tragic accident,” he said. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].