2 dead, 3 injured during Interstate 94 crash involving loose semi tires Saturday evening

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Two people were killed and three were injured in a crash on Interstate 94 Saturday evening when a semi-tractor trailer lost two tires on the freeway, one of which struck a passing vehicle on the opposite side of the interstate.

On Oct. 21 at 4:49 p.m., a 2019 Freightliner Semi, driven by 37-year-old Khadar Abdullahi Hawadle of Savage, Minn., was westbound on I-94 when it lost two tires on the roadway. One tire struck an eastbound 2023 Nissan Rogue, driven by 44-year-old Viengkhone Nguyen of Brooklyn Park, at mile marker 241, near St. Michael, Minnesota.

Airbags deployed in the Nissan Rogue.

Nguyen and one of her four passengers, 43-year-old Lea Khamphachanh of St. Cloud, were pronounced dead at the scene. The three other passengers in the Nissan all suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to North Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Hawadle, the driver of the semi, did not report any injuries during the incident.

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

Perham’s Lakeside Golf Club to close for season on Monday

The last day of golf at Perham’s Lakeside Golf Club will be Monday, Oct. 23.

In a news release, course management said looking ahead at the weather forecast in to this coming week, the decision has been made that the last day of play out at Lakeside will be Monday.

They will also be postponing the Thread the Needle golf tournament that was scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28, until the Spring. The tournament will also be rebranded as the 2024 kickoff to the golf season.

Management also said Lakeside Tap Sports Grill will remain open throughout the winter and they will begin serving at 11 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday. 

They also teased the launch of their new winter menu on Nov. 1.

Browerville woman injured in Highway 71 crash Saturday night

A Browerville woman suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 71 in Todd County on Saturday night.

On Oct. 21 at 7:36 p.m., a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 48-year-old Renae Jean Patterson of Browerville, was northbound on Highway 71 when it left the roadway near mile marker 196 in Eagle Valley Township.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered Patterson suffered life-threatening injuries during the crash, however, preliminary reports are unclear as to which hospital, if any, she was transported.

Patterson was not wearing her seatbelt during the crash and law enforcement has not been able to determine if alcohol factored into the incident.

Elbow Lake man injured during Highway 10 crash in Todd County

An Elbow Lake man was injured in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 10 in Todd County early Saturday morning.

On Oct. 21 at 6:50 a.m., a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica, driven by 20-year-old Drew Thomas House of Elbow Lake, was eastbound on Highway 10 when it left the roadway near mile marker 114 in Villard Township.

The Pacifica struck a field approach, causing the airbags to deploy, and then the vehicle rolled over during the incident.

House suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and was transported to Lakewood Hospital in Staples for treatment.

He was also wearing his seatbelt during the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol factored into the incident.

Police allege twin sister stepped in, took responsibility for Amish buggy crash that killed 2 and injured 2 others

There’s been a strange development in a crash that killed two children and injured two others who were riding on an Amish buggy in southern Minnesota in September.

The crash happened just before 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 25, on County Road 1 when the driver of a Toyota 4Runner collided with the two-wheeled, horse-drawn buggy south of County Road 102, near the Sumner Center Church. 

7-year-old Wilma Miller and 11-year-old Irma Miller were killed during the crash and their siblings, a 9-year-old and a 13-year-old, both suffered serious injuries and were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge says a 35-year-old Spring Valley woman was accused of being the driver of the Toyota that rear-ended the buggy, but that woman may be the twin sister of the woman who was actually driving.   

Court records state that investigators believe the actual driver’s twin sister showed up before law enforcement, and the two switched clothes. 

The twin sister then claimed responsibility for the crash, but investigators think she lied about where she was and where she was going.   

The squad car’s dash cam picked up a conversation between the sisters talking about how law enforcement couldn’t tell the two apart.  

Through the course of the investigation, law enforcement found an exchange of messages between the woman they believe was the driver during the incident and a co-worker, in which the suspected driver admitting to being high on meth at work prior to the crash.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Rep. Tom Emmer seeks U.S. House speakership, voting to resume this week

Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (R) is seeking the U.S. House speakership after Ohio’s Jim Jordan’s third attempt failed Friday.

Reporter Jake Sherman at Punch Bowl News tweeted that Emmer has told members of the House Republican Conference that he will seek the nomination for Speaker. Sherman said that if that happens, he’ll immediately become the frontrunner.

There is also a report now that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R- CA) is endorsing Emmer’s bid.

There are reports that at least seven other Republicans may jump in, but Emmer has the advantage of having run a leadership race before as the House Majority Whip, and “has a base of support.”

Republicans abruptly dropped Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, making the decision during a closed-door session after the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump failed badly on a third ballot for the gavel.

1 dead, 2 injured in St. Cloud shooting early Sunday morning

A 34-year-old man was killed in a shooting early Sunday morning in St. Cloud.

Just before 4:00, officers from the St. Cloud Police Department responded to the 700 block of 6th Avenue South after someone reported hearing multiple gunshots. They found three victims, one critical, and began life-saving measures at the scene. Mayo Ambulance crews also assisted.

Two other people had been shot, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The men, 26 and 52 years old, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital. None of the three are believed to have pulled the trigger.

SCPD says the suspect, or suspects, appears to have fled the immediate area, and the neighborhood is not in danger. Officials are asking for the public’s help. If you have any information, the department’s number is 320-251-1200.

A heavy law enforcement presence is still at the scene as of 8:15 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been called in to assist with the analysis.

The police department does not believe that the shootings were random.

Story by Grant Dossetto / KNSI

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train stopping in Detroit Lakes on Dec. 14

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be chugging through west-central Minnesota in December.

The train snakes its way across the country to support food banks and shelves, raising money, food and awareness for food insecurity issues.

Decorated with hundreds of thousands of LED lights, the train pulls into each town with professional musicians and Santa Claus on board to play a free concert right from a car that turns into a stage. The group also presents a check for the local food shelf at each stop and encourages attendees to do the same.

On Dec. 14, the Holiday Train will be stopping in Detroit Lakes at 2:30 p.m. at the Holmes Street railroad crossing, near the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center.

The singers on board this year’s Holiday Train are award-winning, multi-platinum-selling Dallas Smith and the chart-topping singer/actress MacKenzie Porter. She is featured on Dustin Lynch’s number one hit “Thinking ‘Bout You.”

Smith and Porter will perform on the train car stage from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. before the train departs for its next stop in Mahnomen.

The Holiday Train will arrive in Mahnomen at the railroad crossing, west of Highway 59 and just south of East Washington Avenue, at 4:20 p.m. on Dec. 14. Both Smith and Porter will again perform before the train continues northbound to Plummer, Minn., and finally ending its day’s journey in Thief River Falls.

See the entire route by clicking here.

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