Oak Lawn Twp, MN (May 13, 2026) – Three people were hurt, one critically, in a multi-vehicle crash on Tuesday, May 12, on Highway 210 near County Rd 147 in Crow Wing County. The collision occurred at approximately 5:22 p.m. under dry road conditions.
A 2002 Mazda Protege and a 2017 Dodge Durango were both traveling westbound on Highway 210 when they made contact with each other. The impact pushed the Durango into the eastbound lanes, where it struck a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer head-on. Airbags deployed in all three vehicles.
The Mazda Protege was driven by Michael Carl Bender, 75, of Crosby. Bender suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to North Memorial hospital in Robbinsdale. The Dodge Durango’s driver, Beau Richard Erickson, 31, of Deerwood, was hurt but his injuries were not life-threatening. He was taken to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
Sally Ann Oren, 45, of Crosby, was driving the Chevrolet Trailblazer. She also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center. All three drivers were wearing seat belts, and alcohol was not suspected in any of the vehicles.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and more details will be released as soon as they become available. Our thoughts are with all those injured, especially Michael Bender and his family during this difficult time.
How Do Multi-Vehicle Chain-Reaction Crashes Happen on Minnesota Highways?
Multi-vehicle crashes that begin with a side collision and end with a head-on impact are among the more serious types of accidents seen on Minnesota highways. When one vehicle is pushed across a centerline by an initial collision, it can enter oncoming traffic with little warning, giving drivers in the opposite lane almost no time to react. The chain-reaction nature of these crashes often means more people are hurt than in a typical two-car accident.
Highway 210 in Crow Wing County carries a steady mix of local and through traffic, and passes through areas where speed limits allow vehicles to travel fast enough to cause serious harm on impact. Head-on crashes, even at moderate speeds, tend to produce the greatest forces and the most severe injuries of any crash type.
