Elk River, MN (May 28, 2026) – A woman and a 12-year-old boy were hurt in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of US Highway 169 and Sherburne County Road 77 in Elk River on Wednesday, May 27. The collision involved a crossing vehicle and a southbound SUV traveling on US-169.
A 2014 GMC Sierra, driven by Steven David Winegar, 42, of Elk River, was crossing US Highway 169 from east to west when it entered the path of a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer heading southbound. The two vehicles made contact, and airbags deployed in both. Winegar was not hurt and did not require hospital care.
The Blazer was driven by Charlicia Bryunna White, 24, of Elk River; she was taken to Abbott Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, Charlie Jahiem White, 12, also of Elk River, was taken to Minneapolis Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. While Charlicia had her seat belt on, Charlie did not. Alcohol was not suspected as a factor for either driver.
The wreck remains under active review as investigators work to piece together the full sequence of events. We are keeping Charlicia and Charlie in our thoughts as they receive care and recover.
What Drivers and Parents Should Know About Crossing-Traffic Crashes at Rural Intersections
Crashes that happen when a vehicle crosses a high-speed highway are among the more dangerous types of intersection collisions. The crossing vehicle must clear multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic, and a misjudgment of speed or distance can leave little time for either driver to react. When contact does occur at highway speeds, the forces involved are significant, even on dry roads with good visibility. For passengers who are not buckled in, the risk of serious harm rises sharply, regardless of whether airbags deploy. Children are especially vulnerable in these cases because their bodies are smaller and less able to absorb sudden force. Child safety experts consistently note that proper seat belt use, along with age-appropriate car seats or booster seats, is the most reliable protection available in a highway-speed collision.
