DOVRE TWP, Kandiyohi County, Minn., Oct. 9, 2026 — Two people were hurt on Wednesday afternoon, October 7, when a car and an SUV collided at the intersection of Highway 71 and 66th Avenue NE in Dovre Township.
The Minnesota State Patrol said a Ford Expedition was heading north on Highway 71 when it collided with a Chrysler Town & Country traveling west on 66th Avenue NE. The crash happened shortly after 2 p.m. on a dry roadway.
The driver of the Chrysler, an 86-year-old Willmar man, suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening and was taken to Willmar Hospital. The driver of the Expedition, a 44-year-old New London woman, was reported hurt as well, though the extent of her injuries was not detailed in the state patrol's report. Neither driver's seat belt use was confirmed in the information released. The Chrysler reportedly caught fire, according to the crash summary, though further detail was not provided.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office and Rescue Squad, the Spicer Fire Department, and Centra Care Ambulance responded to the scene. The crash remains under investigation, and no cause has been released.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
When Intersection Crashes Like This Are Most Likely to Happen
Crashes where one vehicle crosses another's path tend to cluster around certain hours rather than happening at random. Midday and early afternoon hours see a steady mix of commuters, delivery traffic and errands, which raises the number of vehicles passing through rural intersections at the same time. Visibility is usually not the problem then; judgment about gaps in traffic and reaction time usually are.
Afternoon light can also work against drivers at intersections oriented east-west, since low sun angles make it harder to see a car approaching from a side road. Rural highway junctions without signals rely heavily on stop signs and driver attentiveness, so a momentary lapse, whether from distraction, a misjudged gap, or a failure to yield, can be enough to put two vehicles in the same space at the same time.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 1,947,298 passenger-vehicle occupants were injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2023. Many of those crashes, like intersection collisions, happen not in darkness or bad weather but during ordinary daylight hours when traffic volume is simply at its highest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does speed make intersection crashes worse? Yes. Higher speed increases the force of impact and lengthens the distance needed to stop or swerve, so even a modest increase in speed can turn a minor collision into a serious one.
Why is distracted driving especially risky at intersections? Judging the speed and distance of cross traffic takes a driver's full attention. A glance at a phone or dashboard for even a second or two can mean missing a stop sign, a changing light, or another vehicle already in the intersection.
What should I do right after a crash like this? Move to safety if possible, call 911, and wait for law enforcement and medical responders. Exchange information with the other driver, take photos of the scene if you're able, and seek a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Dovre Twp, Minnesota
If you're involved in a crash in a rural area like Dovre Township, stay calm and check yourself and any passengers for injuries before getting out of the vehicle, if it's safe to do so. Call 911 right away so law enforcement and medical crews can respond.
Even if you feel fine, consider getting checked by a doctor. Some injuries, especially to the neck, back, or head, don't show symptoms right away. Keep a record of who responded to the scene and any paperwork or report numbers you're given, since that information can matter later for insurance or medical follow-up.
