81-year-old woman dies in Rice County crash

An 81-year-old southeastern Minnesota woman died in a rear-end crash Saturday morning in Rice County.

Officers responded to the scene on Hwy. 19 near Sciota Township around 10:20 a.m. A preliminary investigation showed that a minivan with two occupants was headed west on Hwy. 19 when it stopped to turn left on Kellogg Avenue and was struck from behind by a sedan, according to the State Patrol

The sedan's driver, Donna Mae Otto, of Hampton, died at the scene.

Padah Yang, 24, and Nancy Liedl, 72, both of St. Paul, were taken by ambulance to Northfield Hospital with noncritical injuries.

Everyone involved was wearing their seat belts.

Drugs and alcohol are not thought to be a factor in the crash.