An afternoon drive on U.S. Highway 61 turned tragic Friday when a two-vehicle collision near St. Paul Park left an 80-year-old woman dead and another driver in the hospital.
Cottage Grove responders rushed to the stretch of Highway 61 between 70th Street and 80th Street, where they found two badly damaged vehicles in the northbound lanes. The woman driving a Mitsubishi Mirage died from her injuries at the scene, while the other driver was taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Traffic in the area quickly backed up as crews moved in to secure the site.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash happened around 12:01 p.m. when a northbound BMW 328 hit the Mitsubishi after it came into the lane from the right shoulder. The Mirage driver was identified as 80-year-old Sandra Lee Brunell, who later died from her injuries. The BMW was driven by a 71-year-old man, who was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
What troopers say
The Minnesota State Patrol is still working to piece together what led up to the collision. Investigators have not yet said whether speed, impairment, or any other specific factor played a role. Washington County agencies and local fire departments were called in to help handle the response on the busy corridor.
Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the crash, or who may have useful information, to contact the State Patrol’s East Metro division as they continue their work on the case.
Traffic and response
The wreck snarled traffic along Highway 61 in the middle of the day. Emergency crews and Minnesota Department of Transportation personnel temporarily squeezed northbound traffic into a single lane between 80th Street and County Road 22/Summit Avenue while investigators documented the scene, and the vehicles were removed, as reported by KSTP. The highway was later fully reopened once authorities cleared the area.
Washington County and Cottage Grove emergency teams remained on site for an extended period as the investigation unfolded. MnDOT also provided roadway imagery that was used in initial news coverage of the crash.
Highway 61 safety record
The Highway 61 stretch through Cottage Grove and St. Paul Park has an unfortunate history of serious crashes, and this latest fatal collision only adds to that reputation. Previous coverage by CBS Minnesota and the Star Tribune has highlighted other deadly and major injury incidents along the same corridor in recent years.
The State Patrol says the investigation into Friday’s crash is ongoing and has not released any additional details about possible contributing circumstances or potential charges. Officials are urging witnesses to come forward to help fill in the gaps about what happened. This story will be updated if authorities provide more information.
