Dover Township, MN (August 6, 2026) – Two people were injured, including one critically, after a camper top detached from a truck and struck an oncoming vehicle on U.S. Highway 14 in Dover Township on Wednesday, August 5.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the incident occurred at approximately 6:32 p.m. near mile marker 233 and 19th Avenue SE in Olmsted County. A 2023 Ford F-650, driven by Christopher Joseph Goetz, 31, of St. Charles, was traveling eastbound while towing another vehicle equipped with a camper top. Investigators said the camper top broke free and flew into the westbound lanes, where it struck the windshield of a 2017 Ford Escape.
The Escape’s driver, Kaydence Rita Plank, 21, of Lewiston, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital. Her passenger, Carrie Lee Elliotplank, 42, of Lewiston, suffered life-threatening injuries and was also taken to St. Mary’s Hospital. Goetz was not injured. The roadway was dry at the time of the incident. The Minnesota State Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
We are thinking of those injured and wish them a full recovery.
Why Investigators Examine Detached Cargo and Vehicle Equipment After Crashes?
Crashes involving detached vehicle equipment or cargo require investigators to determine why the object became separated from the vehicle. Officials typically inspect the equipment, attachment points, towing setup, and vehicle condition to determine whether mechanical failure or another factor contributed to the incident.
Investigators also document the roadway, the path the detached object traveled, and the damage sustained by the vehicles involved. Witness statements and physical evidence help reconstruct the sequence of events and determine how the object entered the opposing lanes of traffic.
These investigations help identify the cause of the incident and reinforce the importance of properly securing loads and vehicle equipment before traveling on public roadways.
