Kerkhoven Township, MN (May 28, 2026) – A woman was hurt in a two-vehicle accident on Minnesota Highway 9 at Highway 104 in Kerkhoven Township on Wednesday, May 27. The collision involved two westbound vehicles approaching the Highway 104 junction.
A 2020 Jeep Cherokee, driven by Lynne Beth Payne, 65, of DeGraff, MN, and a 2015 Dodge Caravan, driven by Evan Henry Nienaber, 22, also of DeGraff, were both heading west on Highway 9 when they collided. Payne was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and Nienaber was not hurt and did not require hospital care.
Road conditions at the time were dry, and neither driver was wearing a seat belt. Airbags deployed in the Caravan but not in the Cherokee. Alcohol was not suspected as a factor for either driver.
Notably, both drivers were traveling in the same direction, and the wreck did not involve a crossing or turning movement: details that may be relevant as the full sequence of events is determined. This inquiry remains open as officials work to establish what caused the two vehicles to make contact.
We hope Lynne has a smooth recovery in the days ahead.
What Drivers Should Know About Same-Direction Crashes on Rural Highways
Most people picture a collision as two vehicles meeting head-on or crossing paths at an intersection. But crashes between vehicles going the same direction are more common than many realize, especially on rural two-lane highways. A sudden stop, an unexpected lane change, or a driver following too closely can all lead to rear-end or sideswipe contact: even on dry, open roads. Seat belt use is especially relevant in these cases. Without one, even a lower-speed impact can throw a driver forward into the steering wheel or dashboard with significant force. In Minnesota, rural highway crashes tend to receive less immediate attention than freeway incidents, but they carry real injury risk, particularly for older drivers whose bodies are more vulnerable to the physical forces involved.
