Hibbing, MN (May 12, 2026) – Two people were hurt after a two-vehicle crash in Hibbing on Monday, May 11. The collision happened around 11:15 a.m. at the northbound Highway 169 and South Pintar Road.
Emergency units responded after a 2014 Nissan Altima and a 2013 Ram 1500 collided. Officials said the Ram crossed the northbound lanes of Highway 169 at South Pintar Road as the Nissan traveled north.
The Nissan struck the Ram in the crash, and airbags deployed in both vehicles. The Nissan driver, 46-year-old Brynn Pier Johnson of Keewatin, and passenger, 18-year-old Christopher Thomas Alan Johnson of Keewatin, were taken to University Medical Center Mesabi with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Ram driver, 51-year-old John Edmond Waldvogel of Keewatin, was listed with non-life-threatening injuries but was not taken to a health care facility.
The crash remains under investigation, and additional details may become available as authorities continue their review.
Our thoughts remain with those injured as they continue to recover.
How Side-Impact Crashes Can Cause Injuries
Side-impact crashes can cause injuries because one vehicle strikes the side of another, where there is often less space between the impact point and the people inside. Airbags and seat belts can help reduce harm, but the force may still affect the head, chest, shoulders, or legs.
Highway crossings can also create risk when vehicles move across lanes of faster traffic. Drivers may need to judge speed, distance, and gaps in traffic before entering or crossing the roadway. Dry road conditions can help with traction, but they do not remove the risk of impact.
After a side-impact collision, medical checks might focus on pain, bruising, head symptoms, and possible internal injuries. Some symptoms may appear later, even when injuries are first described as non-life-threatening.
