Melrose, MN (September 6, 2026) – A three-vehicle collision occurred on westbound Interstate 94 near milepost 135 at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4. All three vehicles were traveling west when they came together on dry pavement.
Kristen Olive Setterberg Swanson, 57, of Roseville, was driving a 2023 Toyota Sienna. She was injured and taken to Melrose Hospital with non-life-threatening medical needs. Her 14-year-old passenger was not hurt.
Thomas John Fox, 69, of Rochester, was driving a 2016 Honda CR-V and was not reported harmed. Ashley Renee Hauff, 42, of Apple Valley, was driving a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe with passengers Kameron Gene Hauff, 11, and Lucy Elaine Hauff, 6. None of the three required medical treatment.
The circumstances leading to the wreck remain under investigation. We hope Swanson has a swift and full recovery.
Why Can People in the Same Multi-Vehicle Collision Have Different Outcomes?
People involved in the same roadway emergency can experience very different forces. Vehicle size, speed, seating position, and the direction of contact can determine how much energy reaches each occupant.
Seat belts and airbags help limit movement inside the cabin and reduce contact with hard interior surfaces. Their effectiveness can vary depending on where a vehicle is struck, whether the passenger compartment changes shape, and how quickly the vehicle slows.
A three-vehicle sequence can also expose each car to a different amount of force. One vehicle may sustain greater frontal impact, while another experiences lighter side or rear impacts. Age, body position, and vehicle structure can further affect how someone responds physically, which helps explain why one occupant may need hospital care while others do not.
