Public Aid Requested For Duluth Firefighter Struck In Hit + Run

On the evening of Thursday, January 25, a man was struck by a vehicle on the 9500 block of Grand Avenue in Duluth. The driver of the vehicle then fled the scene.

The victim of the hit-and-run has been identified as 24-year-old Raymond Skoglund, who is a firefighter with the Duluth Fire Department and the Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing.

The Duluth Police Department announced on their Facebook page Skoglund had received critical injuries and was transported by Mayo to a local hospital. They added that a short time later, officers located a vehicle that matched the description, and the suspected driver was being questioned about their involvement.

On Friday, the Duluth Police Department provided an update stating that an 88-year-old had been arrested and booked into the St. Louis County Jail "pending charges of Criminal Vehicular Operation Hit and Run Gross Negligence, Hit and Run Failure to Stop for Injury Accident, and Criminal Vehicular Operation Great Bodily Harm Driver Leaves Scene."

Raymond Skoglund suffered significant injuries and was hospitalized in intensive care as of Friday. A GoFundMe page was started by fellow firefighter Caleb Kittleson, on behalf of the family.

He says that Skoglund was currently in stable condition and was being treated for "two broken legs, a fractured rib and cervical vertebrae, broken nose and jaw, and multiple minor brain bleeds." He added:

Ray is an incredibly dedicated and loving man to his family, friends and everyone he meets. He loves to stay active, spending his time skiing, mountain biking, and many other outdoor activities with loved ones.

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The road to recovery is expected to be a very long one and the GoFundMe page will help the family with the mounting expenses.

Ray Skolund GoFundMe Page

You can click the button above to contribute to the Ray Skoglund GoFundMe page. The page started with an initial goal to raise $60,000. As of the night of Friday, January 26, they had raised more than half of that goal.

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Gallery Credit: Katelyn Leboff