A car veered off the highway just southeast of Buffalo, Minn., early Friday and went airborne, throwing a passenger from the vehicle to her death, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 1:50 a.m. as the car was heading west on Hwy. 55 near Dague Avenue, according to the State Patrol.

Killed was a 25-year-old woman from Buffalo, the patrol said. Her identity has yet to be released.

The woman was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol.

The driver, Michael R. Maanum, 25, of Rockford, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center with noncritical injuries. Maanum was wearing his seat belt, according to the patrol.

The patrol said that alcohol use by Maanum was detected.

PAUL WALSH