Midway Twp, MN (January 22, 2026) – Emergency responders were called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash with injuries on Wednesday afternoon along westbound Minnesota Highway 60 near Milepost 55 in Cottonwood County. First responders from Mountain Lake Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene, treating one person who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred at approximately 4:30 PM on January 21, 2026. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2020 Ford Fusion and a 2023 Peterbilt semi were both traveling west on Highway 60 when they collided under unclear circumstances. The impact did not result in airbag deployment in the Ford, but one passenger was injured and transported to Windom Hospital for further care.
Authorities identified the injured passenger as 61-year-old David Derald Florey of Worthing, SD. He was reportedly wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. The driver of the Ford, 49-year-old Shawn Thomas Mendel, and the semi driver, 41-year-old Zakaria El Barhmi of Saint Paul, were uninjured.
Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office and the Mountain Lake Police Department also assisted with the response and investigation. No signs of impairment were reported, and the crash remains under investigation.
Our thoughts are with Mr. Florey, and we wish him a full and swift recovery.
