Two people died in car crashes around the state Saturday, one a bicyclist west of Belle Plaine and another an older man whose car struck a tree in Aitkin County, according to the State Patrol.

A Ford Explorer and a bicyclist were each traveling westbound on Hwy. 25 in Faxon Township Saturday at 7:36 a.m. when they collided.

Phillip Andrew Ilg, 56, of New Prague, was killed. He was wearing a helmet. The Explorer's driver, a 16-year-old girl, wasn't hurt. Faxon Township is west of Belle Plaine in Sibley County.

Four hours later in Spencer Township, a Ford Explorer driving southbound on Hwy. 47 veered off the road and hit a tree. Spencer Township is in Aitkin County.

James Joseph Collins, 83, of Aitkin, was not wearing a seat belt. His air bag deployed but he died at the scene.

Erin Adler