A Twin Cities man and two other people were killed Friday in a two-vehicle crash at a north-central Minnesota intersection.
The collision occurred about 11 p.m. Thursday in Cass County roughly 3 miles north of Backus, according to the State Patrol.
A minivan driver heading east on NW. 16th Street "failed to stop" and hit an SUV heading north on Hwy. 371, said a statement from the patrol.
Killed were the van's driver, 34-year-old Lenny J. Steffen of Backus; the SUV's driver, Jeffrey J. Wertish, 55, of Ellendale, Minn.; and SUV passenger Robert C. Nelson, 59, of Carver, the patrol said.
Another passenger in the SUV and Wertish's son, 25-year-old Jared M. Wertish of Ellendale, was hospitalized with injuries that were not life threatening.
The two drivers were not using seat belts, while Nelson was, the patrol said. Seat belt use by Jared Wertish was listed as "unknown."
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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