(file photo)
More information has been released about dual traffic crashes that left multiple people with injuries April 9th in neighboring Sherburne County.
The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office reports that five people including a State Trooper and a juvenile were injured in two crashes on Highway 10 in Clear Lake Wednesday evening, stemming from a wrong-way driver.
The first calls reportedly came in shortly after 9 PM Wednesday, about a driver going the wrong way on Highway 10. The wrong-way driver’s Ford Flex collided with a pickup truck near 70th Avenue. Then moments later a State Trooper who was responding to the crash, also collided with one or both other vehicles.
Sherburne County officials identified the wrong-way driver as 70-year-old Dale Braun of St. Cloud. Authorities say it appears Braun pulled onto Eastbound Highway 10 in front of the pickup, which was driven by 17-year-old Blayke Mostad of Milaca, resulting in a broadside crash. Both vehicles came to a stop in the left lane. The investigation showed that moments later, a State Trooper, identified as 36-year-old Ryan Moeser of Clear Lake was responding and was headed east on Highway 10. The trooper came upon the crash, and was reportedly unable to avoid the other vehicles, and a second crash occurred.
The most serious injuries were to the pickup driver, Blayke Mostad, and a passenger, 15-year-old Braxton Mostad. Both were taken to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with serious, to potentially life-threatening injuries. The State Trooper, and a passenger in the pickup, 19-year-old Thomas Hansen of Big Lake, were reportedly treated and released from area hospitals. Dale Braun meanwhile, was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital.
Authorities say an investigation is continuing related to the possibility that some of the occupants of the vehicles involved in the original crash were outside the vehicles when the secondary crash happened.
Officials say they don’t believe alcohol was a factor in the incidents.
