Woman Killed, Multiple Others Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash in Stearns County

(KNSI) – A 56-year-old St. Augusta woman was killed, and several others suffered injuries in a rollover crash Sunday evening near Fairhaven in Stearns County.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened around 7:20 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 7 and County Road 44. The intersection is controlled by stop signs for westbound traffic on County Road 44 and eastbound traffic on 140th Street.

According to the sheriff’s office, a 2022 Ford Expedition driven by a 16-year-old from St. Augusta was heading west on County Road 44 when the SUV collided with a Dodge Ram truck. The collision caused the Expedition to roll. Despite life-saving efforts at the scene, passenger Tina Timmers was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three other people were riding in the Expedition. They were identified as 79-year-old Patrick Ternes, of St. Cloud; 49-year-old Ehren Timmers of St. Augusta; and 19-year-old Grant Timmers of St. Augusta.

The pickup truck was driven by 42-year-old Katie Payne, of Maple Lake. Payne was traveling north on County Road 7 at the time. Katie Payne was carrying two passengers. They were a 15-year-old and a 47-year-old Ryan Payne, both of Maple Lake. All surviving occupants of both vehicles were treated at the scene and taken to St. Cloud Hospital with various injuries.

The Minnesota State Patrol has been called in to conduct a crash reconstruction, and the incident remains under investigation.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, South Haven Fire and Rescue, Mayo Ambulance Service, and Watkins Ambulance Service.

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