Virginia, MN (January 17, 2026) – A single-vehicle crash near the city of Virginia left two young men injured Friday afternoon after their vehicle veered off the road and into a ditch beneath Highway 135.
According to Minnesota State Patrol, the incident occurred at approximately 12:32 p.m. on January 16 along northbound Highway 53 in St. Louis County. A 2025 Hyundai Venue, driven by 22-year-old Lawrence Opoku of Duluth, was traveling northbound when it left the roadway under the Highway 135 overpass. The vehicle entered the ditch, triggering airbag deployment upon impact.
Emergency responders from Virginia Police, Virginia Fire, and Virginia Medical arrived at the scene quickly. The driver, Lawrence Opoku, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia for medical treatment. His passenger, 20-year-old Bruce Afrifa Botwe, also from Duluth, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but did not require hospital transport.
Officials confirmed that both occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The involvement of alcohol remains unknown for the driver, while it has been ruled out for the passenger.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by District 3100 authorities. Road conditions, driver distraction, or mechanical issues may be considered as contributing factors.
Our thoughts are with Lawrence and Bruce as they recover from this incident, and we hope both make a full and swift recovery.
