Two drivers were killed in a violent two-vehicle collision on Highway 52 late Wednesday night between Rochester and Chatfield, authorities said. The crash happened around 11:45 p.m. at the U.S. 52 intersection with Olmsted County Road 7 SE and involved a southbound Jeep Cherokee and a northbound Ford Explorer. Each vehicle had only the driver inside, and both motorists were wearing seat belts, but both suffered fatal injuries at the scene or after being taken to a hospital.
The Minnesota State Patrol's online crash report identifies the drivers as 40-year-old Devon Peri Williams of Preston and 62-year-old Samuel A. Hernandez of Chicago. The report lists the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer as the vehicles involved. According to the report, Williams was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital and later died, while Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. The State Patrol notes that the roadway was wet at the time of the crash and confirms that both drivers were buckled up, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Emergency crews from Mayo Clinic Ambulance, Chatfield Ambulance, the Chatfield Fire Department, Rochester Fire Department and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office all responded, and a medical helicopter was dispatched, local outlets reported. Highway 52 was shut down for a period while first responders worked the scene and tow operators removed the vehicles. Early coverage from KTTC and KROC-AM News placed the collision at the U.S. 52 and County Road 7 SE junction outside Chatfield.
MnDOT has been running a series of projects and outreach efforts along the U.S. 52 corridor this spring, including traffic-signal and interchange work and a public meeting series focused on improvements between Chatfield and Fountain. Agency notices and maintenance bulletins indicate that planners are actively working on traffic and safety along U.S. 52 in the Rochester–Chatfield stretch. MnDOT has posted recent advisories tied to work near the corridor.
Investigation
The State Patrol opened ICR 26102237 and says investigators have not yet determined which vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane. Toxicology testing for the Jeep driver is pending, while the crash report indicates no alcohol was suspected in the SUV driver's system. Officials included a case contact in the State Patrol posting for anyone with information, and the agency's incident display lists responding units and other crash details, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Regional planning documents show that U.S. 52 and its nearby rural junctions have been flagged as recurring hotspots for serious crashes. The ROCOG and Olmsted County safety analysis specifically lists Chatfield and neighboring segments of Highway 52 among locations where engineering countermeasures, such as centerline and shoulder rumble strips and added turn lanes, are recommended to cut down on head-on and angle collisions. Those priorities are laid out in Olmsted County highway safety documents.
The State Patrol continues to investigate and has not released additional information about contributing factors. This story will be updated as agencies release new details and as testing results become available.
