BERTHA TWP, Todd County, MN, Sept. 21, 2026 — A passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries Sunday night, September 20, after the car he was riding in struck two horses on Highway 71, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The crash happened around 9:21 p.m. on northbound Highway 71 near mile marker 211 in Bertha Township, the State Patrol reported. A 2009 Toyota Avalon was heading north when it collided with two horses on the roadway, troopers said.
The driver, a 40-year-old Menahga woman, was not reported injured. Her passenger, a 49-year-old Menahga man, was taken to Astera Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The road surface was dry at the time, according to the report.
Todd County Sheriff's Office and Bertha Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene along with troopers. The State Patrol listed the incident report as believed complete, though the circumstances that put the horses on the highway remain unclear.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
What the Numbers Show About Animal Car Crashes?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, passenger vehicles made up 92 percent of registered vehicles and 89 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2023. That means the vast majority of miles driven, including rural highway stretches where livestock or wildlife can wander into the road, happen in ordinary cars and SUVs rather than trucks or specialty vehicles.
A collision with a large animal differs from a typical vehicle-to-vehicle crashes in one key way: an animal does not reflect light, is unpredictable, and does not clear the roadway quickly. Drivers on rural highways at night have little warning before an animal enters their lane, and impact speeds on higher-speed rural routes tend to be higher than in town.
Rural counties with mixed farmland and open range report these crashes more after dusk, when visibility drops and animals are more likely to be moving between pastures. Local agencies typically investigate whether fencing, restraint, or roadway conditions played a role, alongside the standard review of vehicle speed and driver response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries are most common after a car hits an animal on the road?
Impacts with large animals can cause blunt trauma to occupants from sudden braking or the collision itself, along with cuts from broken glass and injuries from airbag deployment. Severity depends on vehicle speed and the size of the animal involved.
What typically causes these kinds of collisions?
Animals entering roadways unexpectedly, reduced visibility at night, and driver reaction time are common factors. Rural highways with open livestock areas or wildlife corridors see more of these crashes than urban roads.
Does speed make a difference in how serious the crash is?
Yes. Higher speeds reduce the time a driver has to react and increase the force of impact, which raises the likelihood of serious injury for vehicle occupants.
Why is distracted driving especially risky on rural highways?
Rural roads have higher speed limits and less lighting, so a driver who looks away even briefly has less time to spot and react to an animal or obstacle in the road.
What to Do After an Animal-Related Car Crash in Bertha Twp, Minnesota
If you're involved in a crash with an animal, move to a safe location if possible and turn on hazard lights. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries and call 911 even if injuries seem minor, since some symptoms take time to appear.
Wait for law enforcement to arrive and file a report, and get checked by a medical provider afterward, particularly if you hit your head or feel any pain. Document the scene with photos if you're able, and contact your insurance company to begin the claims process once everyone is safe.
