Clearwater Township, MN (July 7, 2026) – A 32-year-old woman was hurt in a crash between a semi-truck and a passenger car on Highway 24 at County Road 40 in Clearwater Township on Sunday, July 5. The collision was reported at 4:55 p.m.
Shelby Lee Rollings of South Haven was driving a 2013 Nissan Altima southbound on Highway 24 when it collided with a 1996 Peterbilt semi also traveling southbound. Rollings was taken to Buffalo Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The semi’s driver, 64-year-old Douglas Edward Kalkbrenner of Grove City, was not hurt in the wreck. No alcohol was suspected for either driver.
The accident remains under active review. We hope Rollings makes a full recovery.
What Happens When a Passenger Car and a Semi Collide on a Rural Highway?
Crashes between passenger vehicles and semi-trucks on rural highways can vary widely in how they occur, from rear-end impacts to side-swipe collisions during passing or merging. When both vehicles are traveling in the same direction, the nature of the contact determines how force is distributed between them. A smaller car in close proximity to a large truck has limited visibility of road conditions ahead and may have less time to react if the truck slows or moves unexpectedly.
The size and weight difference between a 1990s-era Peterbilt and a standard sedan means the passenger vehicle absorbs a disproportionate amount of force in most collision scenarios. Even when airbags do not deploy, the structural impact on a smaller car can result in significant injury to occupants, particularly if the contact occurs at the side or front corner of the vehicle. Seatbelt use, as was the case here for both drivers, is one of the most effective factors in reducing injury severity.
Rural highway intersections where county roads cross state highways can create unexpected traffic conflicts, since vehicles entering or crossing the highway may not always be visible far enough in advance for faster-moving traffic to adjust. These crossing points are frequently examined by investigators when a crash occurs in their vicinity.
