MANKATO — A 19-year-old Minnesota State University student from Robbinsdale was killed in a landslide Dec. 2 at Minneopa State Park.
Jack Loso was walking with two family members near the left side of the bottom of park’s waterfalls when ground above the trail gave way and fell. Loso was trapped underneath the debris.
A 911 call was received just before 5 p.m. Dec. 2, and when emergency workers located the teen, he was deceased.
Funeral services were Dec. 9 at the Church of St. Margaret Mary in Golden Valley.
Loso’s interests included baseball, basketball, skateboarding, playing music and video games, and exploring nature, according to his obituary.
CCX Media interviewed Loso and two of his friends in 2018 about a water-filtration system they designed and brought to Honduras to help children there. At the time of the trip, the three youths were students at the Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School.
The trip to Honduras was led by Cornerstone Church in Crystal. A pastor at the church said the system Loso was involved with is still being used.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued this recent statement about the fatality: “Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family and loved ones of Jack Loso following this tragic loss. The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation. While the majority of Minneopa State Park is open, the area near the base of the falls remains closed to visitors.”
Soon after the incident, Chief Deputy Jeremy Brennan of the Sheriff’s Office said he couldn’t remember a situation when someone was trapped by a landslide but said that over the years there have been some people who wade into the water and get trapped under the falls who had to be rescued.
The Ramsey County medical examiner determined the cause of death as accidental; however, BECSO is waiting for more information.
“The case remains open; the circumstances seem to be that it was a tragic accident,” said Capt. Paul Barta.