3 injured in two separate Monday crashes on westbound Interstate 94 in west-central MN

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Three people were injured in two separate westbound crashes on Interstate 94 in west-central Minnesota on Monday.

The first occurred in Otter Tail County, just outside of Fergus Falls.

At 3:55 p.m., a 2014 Ford F150, driven by 30-year-old Megan Sue Strader of Dalton, Minn., and a 2022 Jeep Compass, driven by 79-year-old Herman Arnold Pederson of Enderlin, N.D., were both westbound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 61 when the Compass rear-ended the F150 in the right lane of the freeway in Buse Township.

Pederson suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and was transported to Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls for treatment.

Strader did not report any injuries at the scene.

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.

The second crash occurred in Douglas County, near Alexandria.

At 10:41 p.m., a 2014 Chrystler Town and Country, driven by 68-year-old Catherine Mary Heln Bockwitz of Fergus Falls, was westbound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 97 when the vehicle left the roadway and came to a stop on a bridge embankment in La Grand Township.

Bockwitz and her passenger, 30-year-old Tanya Catherine Bockwitz of New Ulm, Minn., both suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and were transported to Alomere Health in Alexandria for treatment.

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