East Bethel teen dies in rollover crash

The 19-year-old woman was one of at least four people killed on state roads over the weekend.

By STAFF REPORTS

Last update: August 30, 2009 - 8:55 PM

The death of a 19-year-old woman from East Bethel early Sunday in a single-car rollover crash in Anoka County was one of at least four weekend fatalities on Minnesota roads.

There were no witnesses to the crash, which occurred around 5 a.m. on Anoka County 22 (Viking Boulevard NE.) east of Rochester Street NE., and it does not appear other vehicles were involved, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

The woman, the car's sole occupant, died at the scene. She was wearing a seat belt, the Sheriff's Office said.

Her name has not been released. The Sheriff's Office and the Anoka County medical examiner's office are investigating.

On Saturday afternoon, a 71-year-old man from rural Kasota, Minn., died after his car struck a field approach in Tyrone Township. Roland Schwichtenberg was traveling westbound on County Road 26 about 4 p.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line, entered the south ditch and struck the field approach, according to the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office.

Also Saturday afternoon, two people died and four others were critically injured in a three-car crash in Carver County, according to the State Patrol.

Sandra Babatz, 45, of Norwood Young America, died at the scene, and Juan Olvera, 35, of Sullivan, Texas, died on the way to Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia following the 3:30 p.m. accident at the intersection of Hwy. 212 and County Road 51.

Police said Gordon Curtiss, 52, of Hutchinson, was driving east in a semitrailer truck on Hwy. 212 when it rear-ended a car driven by Babatz, who had stopped to make a left turn onto County Road 51 N.

The impact pushed Babatz's vehicle into the westbound lane of Hwy. 212, where it broadsided a pickup driven by Olvera. The four passengers in Olvera's truck, Nancy Castillo, 29, Narely Olvera, 9, Andira Olvera, 8, and Galylea Olvera, 7, all of Bird Island, were in critical condition late Saturday.

Castillo was upgraded to serious condition Sunday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. The conditions of the Olvera children were not available. State Patrol spokesman Lt. Matt Langer said Sunday that he had no updates on the case.

Curtiss was not injured, police said.

Meanwhile, Tessa Mettel, 32, of Forest Lake, remained in serious condition late Sunday at Hennepin County Medical Center with injuries suffered Saturday when her pickup truck plunged off an Interstate 694 overpass onto 35W after rear-ending a semitrailer truck in New Brighton.

According to the State Patrol, Mettel was driving in the right lane of eastbound 694 approaching 35W as the semi, driven by Corey Gerdes, 21, of St. Paul, headed onto 694 from the cloverleaf ramp from 35W. Mettel's car hit the right rear of the semi, spun around, rolled over, slid down the embankment, hit a light pole, crossed all three lanes of traffic and came to rest in the southbound lanes of 36W under the 694 overpass.

Gerdes was not hurt.

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