3 Dead in Southern Minnesota Traffic Accidents Over Weekend

The Minnesota State Patrol, Cannon Falls Police Department and Dakota County Sheriff's Office responded to a four-vehicle accident on Highway 56 and 292 Street East in Dakota County on Saturday.

According to the report, a GMC Terrain was traveling west on County Road 88 at Highway 56, the driver was identified as 55-year-old Lori Hoefs of Oronoco. A Toyota Camry was traveling north on Highway 56 at County Road 88, being driven by 81-year-old Glen Travis of Dodge Center, and his passenger was 78-year-old Brenda Travis. The GMC failed to stop at a stop sign and broadsided the Toyota Camry, forcing the Toyota into the southbound lane of Highway 56. The Toyota then struck a Ford Edge traveling south on Highway 56. The Edge was being driven by 36-year-old Erica Myking of Burnsville. Renee Piersas, 36, of Bloomington was driving a Pontiac Grand Am that was also damaged from debris at the crash site.

Brenda Travis was killed in the accident, Glen Travis suffered a serious injury and Piersas suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

On Friday, October 21, 16-year-old Sahra Ahmed of Rochester was killed on Highway 52 near Hampton when the vehicle she was riding in collided with another head-on after the driver apparently lost control, got onto the shoulder and over-corrected, crossed the median and hit the other vehicle and rolled, ejecting some of the passengers. Two other teens suffered serious injuries, and two others had non-life-threatening ones. The driver of the other vehicle, Karen Arbuckle of Farmington, also was not seriously injured. The Dakota County Sheriff's Office also assisted in that accident.

Near Cambridge on Friday, another person was killed after the vehicle they were driving collided with a semi.