Family of man killed in landslide warns of dangers

MANKATO, Minnesota – Jack Loso was excited to spend the day with his sister and cousin, who were visiting him in Mankato last December. The three decided to take a hike to the waterfall in Minneopa State Park. But the day ended in tragedy when a sudden landslide buried Jack under tons of rock and sand.

Videos from that day provided to KARE 11 show rescuers frantically digging and calling Jack’s name. When they found him, he was dead.

“It all just happened so fast. It happened so fast,” said Rob Loso, Jack’s father.

Now Jack’s family wants clear warnings to avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Rob and Patti Loso say their son found his place at Minnesota State University in Mankato. He was 19 and studying music production. They say their son was a “quiet soul” with a quick wit. He loved the Timberwolves and had been close to his sister and cousin since they were children.

As a camping family, they weren’t surprised that Jack and the girls decided to visit a state park.

“Camping and being outdoors and visiting different state parks and national parks are just deeply ingrained in our family,” Patti said.

They never imagined that the natural beauty they enjoyed in our state would bring them such tragedy.

Without warning, part of the rock face near the waterfall collapsed. Jack, who was following a marked trail, was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“It was a pure chance,” said Patti. “It could have happened to any family. Any child who was down there that day could have died.”

The family expressed concern that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to reopen the trail without clearly warning about the potential risks.

Her lawyer, Jeff Storms, points to data from the US Geological Survey which suggests with a high degree of probability that landslides have occurred at this location before.

“The state of Minnesota knew there was a risk of landslides and directed people there, but did not warn them of the known danger,” Storms said.

Stephen DeLong of the USGS was involved in the landslide research.

“These are really rare occurrences. They are difficult to predict, but they do happen,” he said.

DeLong explains that landslides are more common in Minnesota than expected because of the soft sediments left behind by glaciers and soft rocks like the sandstone of Minneopa Falls, which can be weakened by freezing and thawing cycles and heavy rain.

Although there are no mountains in Minnesota, the state has steep slopes, especially in the river valleys.

He says the Minneopa Falls landslide “occurred in a location where there are steep rock cliffs surrounding a waterfall, and rockfalls do occur in such areas from time to time.”

The Minnesota DNR says they are “evaluating the condition of the trail in the waterfall area of ​​Minneopa State Park.” They expect the trail to reopen soon after inspections and maintenance are completed.

The DNR has not said whether it plans to post landslide warning signs along the trail.

That’s what concerns Rob and Patti. They are still heartbroken over the loss of their beloved son and want warnings for people to stay away from the falls – and off trails that lead visitors there.

“Their primary responsibility is not only to ensure public access to these great places, but also to ensure the safety of their visitors,” Patti said.

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