2 Drivers Killed in Head-On Stearns County Crash
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A head-on crash in Stearns County left two people dead and another injured, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The crash happened around 5:13 p.m. on Jan. 2 at Highway 71 and 265th Street in Lake George Township.
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The State Patrol said a Dodge Durango was traveling northbound on Highway 71 while a Kia Sportage was traveling southbound when the two vehicles collided in the intersection.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, according to initial emergency radio traffic.
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Authorities identified the driver of the Kia Sportage as 63-year-old Linda Shirleen Erickson from Sauk Centre and the driver of the Dodge Durango as 55-year-old Paul Joseph Matthys from Osakis. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Road conditions were reported as dry at the time of the crash. The Minnesota State Patrol led the investigation with assistance from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Elrosa Fire and MnDOT. Traffic in the area was affected for several hours while investigators worked the scene.
