Six teenagers were hurt, one of them seriously, in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and 125th Street NE in Graham Township, east of Little Rock Lake, early Sunday. A 16-year-old boy riding in one of the cars was ejected from the vehicle and seriously injured, while the other five teenagers involved were treated for their injuries.
According to wjon.com, a 17-year-old boy was driving a Mustang north on 15th Avenue at around 1:15 a.m. with four passengers aboard when a Chevy Impala, driven by a 16-year-old girl, was headed west on 125th Street. As reported by KNSI, the Benton County Sheriff's Office received the crash report at about 1:15 a.m. on November 1.
Mustang Slowed But Did Not Stop
The Mustang driver slowed as he approached the intersection but did not come to a stop, and the Impala struck the Mustang broadside, per the station's report. KNSI's account, citing investigators, states the 17-year-old boy drove through the stop sign and into the path of the westbound Impala, which struck the passenger side of the Mustang with its front end. Per the sheriff's office, traffic on 125th Street had the right of way at that intersection.
The ejected 16-year-old boy was one of five people riding in the Mustang, a group that included the 17-year-old driver, another 16-year-old boy, and two additional passengers, according to KNSI. All five occupants of the Mustang were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment, the same account notes.
Impala's Teen Driver Released to Parents
The 16-year-old girl driving the Impala was alone in her car at the time of the crash and reported injuries of her own, KNSI reports. She was treated at the scene and released to her parents rather than transported to a hospital.
Multiple agencies responded to help at the scene, including Rice police and fire, Sauk Rapids police, the Minnesota State Patrol, and Mayo ambulance crews, according to KNSI. The crash remains under investigation, both wjon.com and KNSI confirm, and no further details about the cause have been released.
Teen Driving Risk Factors
While nothing in the reporting ties this specific crash to any particular driving behavior, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has noted broader risk factors that can put teenage drivers in danger. The agency says teens face elevated risk due to inexperience, risk-taking behind the wheel, speeding and distracted driving, and that they also have the lowest seat belt use rate of any age group, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
