TODD TWP, Hubbard County, Minn., Sept. 16, 2026 — Two people were hurt on Monday afternoon, September 14, when a car hydroplaned on Highway 71 near 190th Street and rolled after striking a utility line, a transformer, and two parked trucks, according to detectives.
The Minnesota State Patrol said a Hyundai Genesis was heading south on Highway 71 and attempting to pass another vehicle near 190th Street when it began to hydroplane on the wet road. The car reportedly slid off the roadway into the right ditch, struck a cable connected to a transformer, and traveled along the cable before hitting the transformer itself. Authorities said the impact sent the car airborne. It then came down on a parked Ford Edge and a parked Ford F-150, both unoccupied, before rolling onto its roof and coming to rest.
The driver, a 62-year-old Bemidji man, and a 62-year-old Bemidji woman who was riding as a passenger were both treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening. The driver was taken to Saint Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids. However, neither occupant was reported to have been ejected from the vehicle.
The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene. Authorities listed road conditions as wet at the time of the crash. The state patrol said its information on the incident is believed complete, though the case remains subject to further review.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
Where Wet-Road Hydroplaning Crashes Concentrate
Hydroplaning does not happen everywhere at the same rate. It shows up most on higher-speed rural highways where water pools in wheel ruts or along flat, poorly crowned pavement, and where drivers are less likely to slow down for standing water because traffic is light. Two-lane roads without a median, like many stretches of state highway in northern Minnesota, give a sliding vehicle nowhere to go but into a ditch, a shoulder, or oncoming traffic.
Passing zones add another layer of risk. A driver moving into the opposing lane or accelerating around another vehicle is already asking more of the tires' grip, and a thin film of water can be enough to break that grip loose. Rural highways lined with utility poles, guy wires, and roadside equipment also mean a vehicle that leaves the pavement has more to hit than open field.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 6,138,359 police-reported traffic crashes occurred in 2023. A share of those happen on wet pavement in rural settings much like the one on Highway 71, where speed, standing water, and roadside obstacles combine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do wet roads and weather factor into crashes like this one?
Rain reduces tire grip and can cause a vehicle to hydroplane, especially at higher speeds or during a passing maneuver. Standing water on flat or rutted pavement is usually the trigger, even when a driver has not changed speed or direction abruptly.
What should someone do immediately after a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if possible, check for injuries, and call 911. Stay at the scene, exchange information with any other drivers involved, and wait for law enforcement to document the crash before leaving.
Where do most traffic crashes happen?
A large share occur on two-lane rural highways and at intersections without signals, where higher speeds and passing maneuvers leave less room to correct if something goes wrong, such as a tire losing traction on a wet road.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Todd Township, Minnesota
Anyone involved in a crash in Todd Township should first check themselves and others for injuries and call for emergency help if needed. Even injuries that seem minor at the scene, such as soreness or stiffness, are worth having checked by a medical provider afterward, since some symptoms take hours or days to appear.
Once everyone is safe, it helps to get the responding agency's report number and note the names of any officers or deputies on scene. Photographing the vehicles, the road surface, and any roadside damage can be useful later, particularly in a crash involving wet conditions where the road surface itself may be part of the story. Following up with a personal doctor after being seen at a hospital is also a good idea, especially for anyone who was in a vehicle that rolled.
