At Least 4 Deaths Reported on Minnesota Roads Since Monday

(KROC-AM News) - There have now been at least four traffic deaths reported in Minnesota since Monday.

The most recent tragic incident occurred 10:45 AM Tuesday in far western Minnesota. A preliminary report from the State Patrol indicates a small passenger car collided with a semi-truck on Highway 75 in Traverse County about 10 miles north of Ortonville.

Three people from the nearby town of Dumont were in the passenger vehicle, including an infant. One of the passengers, 29-year-old Wyatt Tritz was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries. The driver, identified as 22-year-old Autumn Tritz and the unidentified female infant were airlifted to a hospital in Fargo with what were described as life-threatening injuries. Information about the current medical conditions is not available.

The 38-year-old Pierz man driving the truck was not hurt.

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Another fatal crash involving a semi-truck and a small passenger car occurred around 8 AM yesterday near Willmar. The State Patrol says 42-year-old José Nunez of Willmar was pronounced dead at the scene after his westbound car collided with the eastbound truck on Highway 23 just southwest of Willmar.

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A teenage girl was the victim of a traffic crash reported Monday afternoon near St. Cloud. A news release issued by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 18-year-old Ellie Wittstruck of Sartell was driving a car that collided with a minivan at a rural intersection around 2:20 PM. Her passenger, 18-year-old Grams Grams was airlifted to the St. Cloud hospital with life-threatening injuries, while the driver of the minivan escaped with only minor injuries.

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The fourth fatal traffic incident occurred early Monday in Itasca County, where the State Patrol reported that 14-year-old Dakota Jones died after she was struck by a car while walking along Highway 169 near Grand Rapids around 1:30 in the morning. She was with a 13-year-old girl, who was also hit by the car and was taken to a Duluth hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Since the beginning of this year, the State Department of Public Safety says 239 deaths have been reported on Minnesota roads.

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