South Bend Twp, MN (May 13, 2026) – Two people were hurt in a two-car crash on Tuesday, May 12, at the intersection of southbound Highway 169 and Highway 68 in South Bend Township, Blue Earth County. The collision was reported at approximately 1:58 p.m. under dry road conditions.
A 2022 Jeep Compass was heading south on Highway 169 when it collided with a 2021 Chevrolet Spark traveling east on Highway 68. Airbags deployed in both vehicles. Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
The Spark was driven by Claudia Lopez Moreno, 44, of North Mankato. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to MCHS Mankato. The Jeep’s driver, Christoffer Reid Andersen, 43, of Fairmont, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the same facility.
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 both drivers as they recover.
What Commonly Leads to Intersection Crashes on Minnesota State Highways?
Intersection crashes between crossing roads are a frequent type of accident on Minnesota’s rural state highway network. When one road runs north-south and another runs east-west, drivers must judge the speed and distance of oncoming traffic before proceeding. Misjudging that gap, even by a second, can result in a serious collision.
Right-of-way confusion is one of the more common factors in these crashes. Drivers on a highway may not expect cross traffic to enter the intersection, while drivers on a side road may underestimate how fast the highway traffic is moving. The deployment of airbags in both vehicles reflects the kind of force that can be generated when two cars meet at a highway intersection.
