Dovre Township, MN (September 6, 2026) – Two drivers were injured in a collision at northbound Highway 71 and Highway 23 at about 4:44 p.m. on Friday, September 4.
Steven John Eckel, 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu west across the northbound lanes of Highway 71. Ashlee Ellizabeth Fader, 39, of Spicer, was driving a 2023 GMC Yukon north when the vehicles came together.
Both drivers had non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Centra Care. Alcohol was suspected for Eckel but not for Fader.
The cause of the crash remains under review. We hope both drivers recover fully.
How Can Cross-Highway Movements Increase Injury Risks?
Crossing the lanes of a major highway can place one vehicle directly in the path of faster through traffic. Drivers must judge the distance and speed of approaching vehicles while also allowing enough time to clear each travel lane.
Side and angled contact can expose occupants to forces that differ from a straight frontal strike. Doors and side panels generally provide less space between the occupant and the vehicle’s exterior than the front end does.
Seat belts and airbags can reduce movement inside the cabin, but injury severity still depends on speed, vehicle size, contact angle, and cabin deformation. At intersections where one road crosses another, visibility and timing are especially important because a small misjudgment can leave a vehicle exposed within an active traffic lane.
