Elk River, MN (January 27, 2026) – Authorities in Sherburne County responded Monday afternoon to a three-vehicle crash involving non-life-threatening injuries at the ramp from northbound Highway 169 to Fremont Avenue near Elk River.
Key Details
- Location: Elk River, MN
- Where: Ramp from Hwy 169 NB to Fremont Ave
- Type: Injury Crash
- Reported: January 26, 2026, 2:41 PM
- Injuries: Confirmed (One non-life-threatening)
- Responding Agency: North Memorial Ambulance, Zimmerman Fire, Sherburne County SO, MN DNR
What We Know So Far
- A 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and a 2018 Kia Sorento were involved in a crash at the intersection near the Hwy 169 ramp to Fremont Ave.
- The Volkswagen and Kia were traveling in opposite directions on Fremont Ave, while the Jeep approached from Hwy 169.
- Jami Ann Schuster, 30, of Elk River, was driving the Volkswagen and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to Princeton Hospital.
- Other drivers, including a 16-year-old male in the Kia and a 63-year-old man in the Jeep, were not injured.
What’s Not Yet Confirmed
- The precise sequence of events leading up to the crash.
- Whether any citations were issued following the incident.
- The condition of the involved vehicles after impact.
- If traffic flow was temporarily affected on the ramp or surrounding roads.
Local Context
The ramp from northbound Highway 169 to Fremont Avenue serves as a connector for local and regional traffic near Elk River in Sherburne County. With Fremont acting as a local thoroughfare, intersections like this can experience conflicts between merging and crossing vehicles. Emergency responders from Zimmerman Fire, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies worked quickly to assess injuries and manage the scene. Incidents at these access points can create short-term delays and require coordination among multiple jurisdictions. Additional updates may be available as officials finalize their reporting.
What to Do Next
- If it’s safe, take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, and the surrounding area.
- Write down the time, location, and what you observed while the details are still fresh.
- Monitor how you feel after the crash. Some injuries can appear hours or days later.
- Keep paperwork from the incident in one place for easy reference.
FAQ
Q: What information is typically included in a crash report?
A: Crash reports generally include time, location, vehicle details, driver statements, road conditions, and any injuries or citations related to the incident.
Q: Why do crashes at ramps and intersections happen frequently?
A: These areas involve merging and turning traffic, making them common sites for misjudgments, limited visibility, or failure to yield—especially with multiple directions of travel.
Q: Do airbags always deploy in a crash?
A: Airbag deployment depends on the force and angle of impact. While some vehicles deployed airbags in this incident, not all collisions meet the threshold for activation.
