Livonia Township, MN (July 23, 2026) — A Zimmerman family of five was involved in a collision on Tuesday afternoon, July 21, on US Highway 169 near mile marker 167 in Livonia Township, Sherburne County, when a 2017 Nissan Altima entering the highway from 245th Avenue struck a 2013 Toyota RAV4 traveling northbound, investigators said. The RAV4 rolled into the median ditch afterward.
Krishna Lachhminarain, 47, of Zimmerman was driving the RAV4 with his wife, Seema Lachhminarain, 46, and two young children, a 7-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, inside. All three passengers were reported to have non-life-threatening injuries, and Seema Lachhminarain was taken to Princeton Hospital.
The Nissan Altima was driven by 30-year-old Tristin Ray Long of Pillager, with 35-year-old Corey Joshua Treb also inside. The Altima’s airbags did not deploy.
The road was dry at the time of the wreck, and alcohol was not suspected as a factor for either driver, investigators said. Emergency units responded to help those involved. The exact cause of the accident remained under review as this report was filed.
We’re glad to hear the injuries were not life-threatening, and we wish the family a full recovery.
Why Merging Onto a Highway Takes Extra Caution?
Entering a highway from a side road takes more than a glance both ways. Drivers need to judge how fast oncoming vehicles are actually moving, since highway speeds can make distances deceiving. A gap that looks safe from a stop can close much faster than expected once traffic is moving at 55 or 60 miles per hour.
One common mistake is treating a highway entrance like a normal intersection, pausing too long or creeping forward without committing to the merge. This can confuse drivers already on the highway, who may not expect a vehicle to stop partway into their lane. Matching speed with traffic before merging, rather than merging first and accelerating after, tends to be safer in most cases.
Checking mirrors and blind spots in the seconds before entering is just as important as watching the road ahead. A quick shoulder check can catch a vehicle that mirrors alone might miss, especially in fading light or heavy traffic conditions. Signaling early also gives other drivers time to adjust their speed or change lanes if needed.
