Nett Lake man dies after pickup strikes former McDonald’s building in Cook

COOK — A 51-year-old man from Nett Lake died Friday, November 6, 2026, after his pickup left Highway 53 and struck the former McDonald’s building in Cook, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and medical responders were dispatched at 11:42 a.m. to 101 Highway 53. Witnesses found the driver unresponsive, broke a pickup window to reach him and pulled him from the vehicle before beginning CPR. Responders continued lifesaving efforts, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A witness told investigators the pickup drifted off the highway at a relatively low speed before hitting the building. The sheriff’s office said its preliminary investigation indicated the man may have experienced a medical emergency before the crash. Authorities said alcohol was not a factor.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating. The man’s name was withheld in the sheriff’s release pending notification of his family.

Source: St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office — November 6, 2026, fatal-crash release.