Minnesota state auditor Julie Blaha and Senator Melisa Franzen suffered non life-threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash late Wednesday afternoon as they left Farm Fest in Redwood County.
A Minnesota State Patrol report says the crash happened at 5:03 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 67 and County Road 13. Blaha, 51, was behind the wheel of a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was southbound on County Road 13 with Franzen, 41, as a passenger.
The state patrol says the vehicle collided with a semi driven by Patrick Crain, 70, of Morgan, Minnesota. Crain was not injured according to the report.
Alcohol was not a factor and all three were wearing seatbelts. Images from the scene show there are stop signs for north and southbound traffic on County Road 13 at the Highway 67 intersection.
Senate DFL minority leader Susan Kent wrote on Twitter, "I spoke with Melisa tonight. I was reassured by the sound of her voice and I'm so grateful it sounds like she’ll be ok. I am holding both her and Julie in my prayers."
Governor Tim Walz wrote, "I’m sorry to hear this — keeping my thoughts with Julie, Melisa, and their families as they recover."
