1 dead, 1 seriously hurt in Highway 71 crash
UPDATE 6 p.m. 3/30/23: The Minnesota State Patrol has identified the SUV driver who died in the crash Monday as 58-year-old Farha Naz.
The agency named the SUV passenger as 67-year-old Razia Sultana Qureshi. Qureshi was seriously hurt in the crash; however, there have not been any updates to her condition as of Thursday evening.
Both were wearing a seatbelt, according to the State Patrol report. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
UPDATE 6 p.m. 3/27/23: A Minnesota State Patrol report time stamped just before 6 p.m. Monday identifies the people who were hurt in the crash as two Motley women ages 58 and 67.
At this time, the State Patrol has not specified which woman died at the scene and which woman was seriously injured. The 58-year-old woman was driving an SUV involved in the crash, and the 67-year-old woman was riding as a passenger.
Identification and other details are expected to be released here at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Early State Patrol information indicates a Freightliner headed north on Highway 71 and an SUV headed east on Leaf River Road collided at the intersection.
The driver of the Freightliner, a 27-year-old man from Olympia, Washington, was not hurt.
The Leaf River Township portion of Highway 71 that was blocked due to the crash has reopened, Minnesota 511 shows.
INITIAL REPORT 4 p.m. 3/27/23: One person is dead and another is seriously hurt following a crash between a semi and a passenger vehicle at around 11:30 a.m. Monday just north of Wadena, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The Minnesota 511 website shows the section of Highway 71 where the crash occurred is still closed to traffic. It is expected to reopen around 4 p.m., according to 511.
Head here for information about a detour while the closure persists.
Sgt. Jesse Grabow said the State Patrol is investigating and will release more information later on.