Car runs off road, starts grass fire in Stearns County

A grass fire started early Monday morning after a car ran off the road in St. Augusta.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified of a grass fire at 1:35 a.m. near 215th Street and 23rd Avenue.

Authorities responded and found several acres of grass and a vehicle already burned. Firefighters were able to put out the fire. The vehicle, a 1996 Toyota Tercel, was a total loss.

The sheriff’s office said 37-year-old Derek Lapp, of St. Paul, was found walking on County Road 7. He admitted to driving the Toyota and said its brakes went out before the car came to rest in a ditch. The fire then started while he tried to drive out of the ditch.

Nobody was injured.