More than a dozen injured in car crashes

Published 9:32 am Wednesday, March 13, 2013

More than a dozen people were injured Tuesday in rollover crashes on icy roads in the area.

Though most injuries were classified as minor, there was a serious injury reported in a crash at 10:54 p.m. near the intersection of Minnesota Highway 22 and 60th Street near Kiester.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 1996 GMC Sierra pickup was driving northbound on Highway 22, just leaving Kiester, when it went into the east ditch and rolled twice.

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The names of the people injured have not been released.

Interstate 35 crashes

Eleven injuries were reported in five separate rollovers on Interstate 35 between Owatonna and the Iowa border.

One crash happened near milepost 28, north of Ellendale in Steele County.

According to the State Patrol, Ashley J. Underdahl, 29, of Clarks Grove, Karen Drenth, 48, of Albert Lea, and Rylee Schoon, 2, residence unknown, were transported to the Owatonna hospital for minor injuries after the first I-35 rollover, at 8:43 a.m.

Underdahl was listed as the driver and Drenth and Schoon were the passengers, according to the State Patrol.

The report stated Underdahl was driving northbound on I-35 in a 2003 GMC Yukon when she lost control on an icy part of the road and rolled into the median.

The Ellendale Ambulance, Ellendale Fire Department, the Steele County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross Ambulance assisted at the scene.

The report stated no alcohol was detected and all three people were wearing their seat belts.

Another I-35 rollover, at 9:42 a.m., took place south of Albert Lea three miles north of the Iowa border. Arlene Freudenberg, 21, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for minor injuries.

According to the State Patrol, Freudenberg was driving northbound on I-35 in a 1993 Ford Ranger when she reportedly lost control and rolled into the center median.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Freudenberg was reportedly wearing her seat belt, and no alcohol was detected.

In the third rollover, at 9:09 p.m., a 2004 Toyota Tacoma was driving southbound on I-35 at milepost 37 in Steele County when it lost control, went into the median and rolled. The location is three miles south of the interchange with U.S. Highway 14.

The State Patrol listed Anabel Flores, 38, of Minneapolis, as the driver.

Flores and passengers, Juliana Ramirez, 10, Rene Ramirez, 34, and Jazmin Ramirez, 18, all of Minneapolis, received minor injuries and were treated at the Owatonna hospital.

Jonathan Ramirez, 13, of Minneapolis, received serious injuries and was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

In the fourth rollover, at 11:09 p.m., Alan Alvarez, 46, of Henderson, Nev., and an unnamed passenger received minor injuries after a 2001 Honda reportedly lost control, went into the median and rolled.

The State Patrol indicated Alvarez was traveling southbound three miles north of the Iowa border when the crash occurred. The car came to rest in a northbound lane.

Both Alvarez and his passenger were treated at the Albert Lea hospital.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Gold Cross Ambulance assisted.