Passenger Critically Injured in Hwy. 218 Crash With Construction Equipment Near Owatonna
Both vehicles were traveling north when they made contact, according to the state crash report.
Owatonna, MN (KROC-AM News)- A crash involving heavy construction equipment has left a southern Minnesota man fighting for his life.
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He was the sole passenger in a minivan that collided with the equipment.
A payloader was the equipment involved in the collision. The State Patrol responded to the Steele County crash shortly after 1:00 Tuesday afternoon.
60-Year-Old Faribault Man Suffers Critical Injuries in Crash With Payloader on Hwy. 218 Near Owatonna
The minivan and payloader collided at the intersection of Hwy. 218 and 48th St. East, which is five miles southeast of Owatonna.
Both vehicles were traveling north on the two-lane highway when they made contact, according to the state crash report.
60-year-old Mario V Rodriguez was identified as the minivan passenger. The State Patrol says the Faribault man was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with life-threatening injuries.
21-year-old Leonardo Rodriguez Valdez of Faribault was driving the minivan. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital in Owatonna, according to the State Patrol.
The payloader operator escaped the crash without injuries. The State Patrol identified him as 47-year-old Joseph Michael Fiedler of Claremont.
Alcohol was not involved in the crash. Rodriguez was not wearing his seatbelt during the crash, the state crash report says.
The Steele County Sheriff’s Office, Claremont Fire Department, Owatonna Fire Department and Owatonna Police Department also responded to the serious injury crash.
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