Executive Summary
- A fatal crash occurred Wednesday evening on Highway 169 near Lake Mille Lacs.
- State Patrol reports a Buick LeSabre crossed the center line and struck a Saab sedan.
- Five people were involved in the collision; at least one was not wearing a seat belt.
MILLE LACS COUNTY, Minn. – The Minnesota State Patrol has launched an investigation into a fatal traffic collision involving two vehicles near the shores of Lake Mille Lacs in east-central Minnesota on Wednesday evening. The crash resulted in at least one fatality and involved five individuals.
The incident occurred shortly before 7:00 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 169 and Shakopee Lake Road. According to the preliminary incident report released by the State Patrol, a Buick LeSabre traveling on the highway crossed the center line and collided with a Saab sedan.
authorities confirmed that five people were involved in the crash. The report notes that at least one individual was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the impact. A 21-year-old woman from Isle was identified as the sole occupant of the Buick. The Saab contained four occupants: a 53-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man, both from Minneapolis, as well as a 41-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman, both from Onamia.
Traffic Safety Investigation
The Minnesota State Patrol is currently reconstructing the accident scene to determine the precipitating factors that led the Buick to cross into opposing traffic. Investigations into head-on collisions typically prioritize toxicology screening, device forensics, and road conditions as primary lines of inquiry. As of this report, law enforcement has not disclosed whether alcohol or distracted driving played a role, and the investigation remains active to determine if any citations or charges are warranted.
