Test drive in classic car ends in wrong-way crash that kills 2 in Waite Park

A man test-driving a classic car was killed Monday evening when another motorist driving the wrong way on a busy street in Waite Park, Minn., hit him head-on.

Richard Tomlinson, 61, of Grantsburg, Wis., was behind the wheel of a 1970s Chevrolet El Camino with the car's owner riding in the passenger seat when a 28-year-old man heading west in the eastbound lanes of W. Division Street crashed into the car about 7:15 p.m. near the intersection of 4th Avenue S., said Waite Park Police Chief David Bentrud.

Tomlinson died at the scene. The car's owner, Roger Nelson, 77, of Clearwater, Minn., was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, where he died later.

The driver of the wrong-way car, identified by police as Charlie Barnett, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital. Law enforcement is guarding his room and will take him to jail once he is released, Bentrud said.

Charges pending against Barnett include criminal operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving and violating an order for protection, Bentrud said.

In a separate crash, a motorcyclist heading west on Hwy. 55 collided head-on with an eastbound pickup truck and died at the scene of crash near the intersection of 123rd Avenue in Maine Prairie in Stearns County.

The State Patrol identified the motorcyclist as Sheri Sue Tilley, 56, of Lakeville.

She was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, which occurred about 12:50 p.m.

The pickup truck driver, Matthew Edward Diwi, 25, of Ramsey, was not seriously hurt. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Diwi was wearing a seat belt, the patrol said.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768