Lucas Knudson Obituary, Death; – School officials have identified a 17-year-old who tragically lost his life late Sunday after his vehicle collided with a heavy light pole on a highway in Minnetonka, resulting in a fire.
Dr. Amy Steiner, the Superintendent of Orono Public Schools, communicated with families in a letter, informing them that the parents of Orono High School senior Lucas Knudson had given permission for the district to announce his passing due to the accident, which occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on Highway 7 at the intersection with Highway 101.
“Lucas joined Orono in Kindergarten and was an exemplary student,” Dr. Steiner noted in her correspondence. “He was a key player on the OHS varsity basketball team and was involved in Unified and Letters of Love. He had a variety of interests and was a friend to many.”
In light of this unforeseen tragedy, the district is providing grief support to Knudson’s peers and school personnel by deploying a counseling team and establishing designated areas for reflection. The superintendent indicated that staff will continue to assess the needs of students in the upcoming days and will offer necessary resources.
Lucas is survived by his father, Brian; his mother, Renae; and two sisters, Julia, a graduate of the Class of 2021, and Lauren, a graduate of the Class of 2023. Below is the letter sent to Orono High School families by Superintendent Dr. Amy Steiner. Dear Orono families and staff,
This morning, the Orono Schools community is filled with sorrow as we received the heartbreaking news that one of our beloved seniors, Lucas Knudson, passed away last night in a car accident. With the family’s consent, we communicated this news to our Orono High School student body today. In response to this devastating event, we are providing grief support to our students through our school counselors and support teams, as well as designated gathering spaces within OHS. We wish to keep our Orono families informed as well.
Lucas began his journey with Orono in Kindergarten and was an exceptional student. He was a starting player on the OHS varsity basketball team and actively participated in Unified and Letters of Love.
