2 seriously injured in Otter Tail County crash on Interstate 94

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Two people suffered serious injuries during a two-vehicle crash involving a van and trailer and a semi-tractor trailer in Otter Tail County on Monday morning.

On Sept. 11 at 1:52 a.m., emergency dispatchers received a report of the crash at mile marker 64 on Interstate 94 in Tumuli Township.

A preliminary crash report indicates a 2002 Ford Van with a trailer, driven by 35-year-old Joseph Daniel Auala of North Chesterfield, Va., was westbound when it was struck by an unknown vehicle causing leave the roadway and rollover in the ditch.

During the rollover, the trailer detached from the vehicle and remained in the roadway where it was struck by a westbound 2016 Frieghtliner Tractor, driven by 33-year-old Yahye Isse Ali of Barron, Wisc. The Frieghtliner left the roadway and also rolled over in a ditch.

Both drivers suffered life-threatening injuries and were transported to Sanford Hospital in Fargo for treatment.

A passenger in the Ford Van did not report any injuries at the scene of the crash.

All three vehicle occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crashes and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.