At least one person died late Wednesday night after a single-vehicle rollover on Minnesota Highway 22 north of Litchfield, when a Chevrolet Malibu left the roadway and crashed into a ditch. Authorities say the car rolled and its airbags deployed. The driver was identified by troopers as a 39-year-old woman from Litchfield and the passenger as a 40-year-old woman from Hutchinson, though their names have not yet been released. The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation.
What authorities say
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash was logged at 9:51 p.m. on May 13 at Minnesota Highway 22 and 180th Street in Greenleaf Township. The agency’s incident report states the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling north when it left the roadway, rolled and came to rest in a ditch. The report notes that the crash involved at least one unbelted occupant.
The incident record lists a St. Cloud district case contact and media contact and indicates that additional identifying information is scheduled to be released May 15 at 10 p.m.
Local reporting
As reported by WJON, at least one person died in the rollover. Reporter Jim Maurice wrote that troopers confirmed the ages and hometowns of the two occupants but have not released their names. WJON also reported that, according to troopers, at least one person involved in the crash was not wearing a seatbelt and that more details from the state patrol were expected Friday night.
Seatbelts and safety
Under Minnesota Statutes, drivers and passengers must wear properly adjusted seat belts, and violators can face a $25 fine, with most of that money supporting emergency medical services. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety notes that while statewide belt use is high, unbelted occupants still make up a significant share of traffic deaths. Troopers and local responders say that in rural rollovers like this one, not wearing a seatbelt often raises the risk of being ejected and killed.
Investigation continues
The Minnesota State Patrol remains in charge of the investigation. Its incident page lists the St. Cloud district case information number as 320-223-6666 and the media contact as Sgt. Jesse Grabow at (218) 639-3168, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Anyone with tips, video or other information is asked to reach out to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office in Litchfield; the county lists non-emergency and tip numbers for investigators on the Meeker County Sheriff's Office website.
