MELVILLE TOWNSHIP, MN — A 33-year-old Hector man died Friday afternoon after his SUV collided head-on with a semi truck in central Minnesota, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The crash happened just before 1:15 p.m. on Highway 212 in Melville Township.
Authorities said Blaine Minkel was driving west when he struck a tractor-trailer headed the other way. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crash Details
The State Patrol said the semi was being driven by a 50-year-old man from Rossie, Minnesota. The truck driver was hurt in the crash but had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The collision shut down part of the highway scene while responders handled the crash and investigated what happened.
Victim Identified
Investigators identified the SUV driver as Blaine Minkel, 33, of Hector. No other people were reported injured in the wreck.
The patrol did not release any further details about what led to the vehicles meeting in the roadway.
Where It Happened
Melville Township is about 90 miles west of Minneapolis. Highway 212 runs through the area and serves as a major route in central Minnesota.
The crash adds to a stretch of serious roadway incidents in the region, where rural highways can leave little room for error in oncoming traffic.
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