Farmington man dies in single-vehicle crash

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A 55-year-old Farmington man died in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday night in Empire Township.

According to a press release from the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, Paul Benjamin Ornat of Farmington was driving his vehicle west on 170th Street, west of Highway 3, at approximately 7:57 p.m. on March 3.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Ornat was alone in the vehicle and his 2003 Ford pick-up left the roadway, striking an electric pole on the driver's door. Icy road conditions were found near the accident site. At this time, it is unknown if those conditions were a contributing factor, according to the press release. Ornat was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

The crash was the first one involving a fatality on Dakota County roads during 2009, according to the press release. The crash remains under investigation by the Dakota County Sheriff's Office and Dakota County Coroner's Office.

Editor's note: An early version of the press release from the county attorney's office listed Ornat's name as Benjamin Paul Ornat.