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.
-
Contributed/Tony Webster via Wikimedia CommonsJennifer Stately, 37, was tried in a Minneapolis federal court for the murders of her two sons, ages 5 and 6, on the Red Lake Nation in March 2024. -
Plus: Hubbard County man charged with threatening state lawmakers; and Hibbing Public Schools is bracing for a potential strike from the union representing support staff. -
Contributed/Staples-Motley School DistrictStaples-Motley is asking voters to approve $55 million in new bonds that would replace old debt, thereby not increasing taxes. The money would be used to update both schools. -
Contributed/Minnesota House Public Information ServicesJohn Tobias, 58, of rural Park Rapids, was arraigned Feb. 25, 2026, after allegedly threatening an attack on the state Capitol. -
Contributed/C-SPAN YouTubeGov. Tim Walz describes the move as a "campaign of retribution." -
From golf courses to beaches to shopping malls, we heard from many of you this week about your first jobs. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEVoters will decide on Aitkin's latest attempt to build a new elementary school on April 14, 2026. The new ask is about one-third less than the November 2025 referendum. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEMt. Itasca is hosting Snojam, a snowboarding event, as well as the Redwing Central Division Championships of Ski Jumping Feb. 28-March 1, 2026, in Coleraine. -
Andrew Dziengel/KAXEBeltrami County Master Gardeners Dan Sherman and Val Kinnane joined the KAXE Morning Show to talk about upcoming events. -
The free test kits from the Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District check for bacteria, nitrates, lead, arsenic and manganese in private wells.
