A late-afternoon crash at a rural Kandiyohi County intersection left at least one person dead and neighbors rattled, after a semi and a passenger car collided near Paynesville on Wednesday.
The wreck happened at the intersection of Highway 55 and Kandiyohi County Road 2 and involved an 88-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman from Belgrade who were riding in the car. Authorities said at least one of them was killed, while the condition of the other had not been confirmed as of Wednesday night. First responders stayed on scene into the evening while state investigators began sorting out how the deadly collision unfolded.
What the State Patrol Says
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred around 5 p.m. when a semi traveling west on Highway 55 hit a passenger vehicle headed north on Kandiyohi County Road 2, as reported by WJON. The semi driver, identified as 43-year-old Daniel Goodall of Belgrade, was not injured.
Officials told WJON that the names of the two people in the car would be released after family notifications, with an update expected Thursday morning.
A Corridor With a Record
Highway 55 in central Minnesota has a documented history of serious crashes, including multiple incidents in and around the Paynesville area in recent years. Local residents have repeatedly raised concerns about sightlines and speeds at rural intersections along the corridor.
The West Central Tribune has reported on past two-vehicle crashes near Paynesville that brought out coordinated responses from fire, ambulance and sheriff’s crews. While county and state officials have floated various traffic projects and detours for parts of Highway 55, those lightly controlled rural crossings remain a persistent worry for people who drive the route every day.
Response and Investigation
The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation into Wednesday’s fatal crash. The agency was assisted at the scene by the Paynesville Fire and Police Departments, CentraCare Ambulance and the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, according to WJON.
So far, officials have publicly released only the ages of the car’s occupants and the identity of the semi driver. The State Patrol said the investigation remains active and that more details, including the formal identification of the victim or victims, will be made available once next of kin have been notified.
This crash is the latest in a string of serious wrecks on rural stretches of Highway 55 in central Minnesota. We will update this story as authorities release additional information.
