VINELAND — Four people died and one person was critically injured after a head-on crash Wednesday night, Feb. 25, near Grand Casino Mille Lacs.
The crash on Highway 169 is the state’s deadliest in nearly three years.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported a northbound 2004 Buick LeSabre with one occupant crossed the center line of the highway near Shakopee Lake Road and struck a southbound 2005 Saab sedan with four people inside.
The driver of the Buick — Samantha J. Ajax, 21, of Isle — and three of the four people in the Saab suffered fatal injuries. They were driver Michelle M. Rock, 53, Minneapolis; Christopher A. Boswell, 41, Onamia; and James A. Ortley, 51, Minneapolis. Jessica F. Mitchell, 25, of Onamia, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital.
According to the state patrol, none of the people in the Saab were wearing seatbelts. It was unknown whether Ajax wore one. The road was dry at the time of the crash.
Assisting at the scene were the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office, Mille Lacs Tribal Police Department, Mille Lacs Health System Ambulance, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Ambulance and North Memorial Health Air Care.
It’s the second deadly crash on that stretch of highway in two days.
50-year-old Nicole Freeman of Garrison was killed Tuesday morning after losing control of a 2003 Subaru Impreza on the ice-covered road and T-boning a 2016 Kia Sorento. The driver of the Kia — Leslie J. Gahbow, 42, of Isle — suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
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