Five people were injured when an SUV and a mini-van collided head-on west of Buffalo Wednesday afternoon.
The State Patrol reports around 2:25 PM Wednesday, a Jeep Grand Cherokee was eastbound on Highway 55 near Baker Avenue Northwest in Maple Lake Township when it collided head-on with a Chrysler Town & Country mini-van that was westbound.
Officials say the driver of the mini-van, 54-year-old Margaret Keesling of Silver Lake sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries in the crash. She was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Several passengers in the van were also injured. A 10-year-old boy from Monticello, identified as Jase Keesling, sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Another passenger, 36-year-old Jessica Lampi of Monticello had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Unity Hospital for treatment. Other passengers with injuries included a 15-year-old female identified as Aubrie Houchin of Brainerd, who had non-life threatening injuries, and 34-year-old Sierra Oustad of Brainerd who had non-life threatening injuries. Both were treated at the Buffalo Hospital. A fifth passenger in the van, 30-year-old Steven Keesling of Monticello, was not injured.
The driver of the Jeep SUV, 38-year-old Jonah Maddox of Cold Spring, was not injured. Authorities noted that alcohol was found in Maddox’s system, but did not indicate whether or not that was a contributing factor in the crash.
Roads were reported as being dry at the time of the collision.
The Buffalo Police and Fire Departments, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Allina, CentraCare and LifeLink ambulance teams, and MnDOT all assisted at the crash site.
The investigation into the crash is continuing.
