2 dead, child among 3 injured in crash on Highway 7 near Silver Lake

UPDATE 8/19/22 – Authorities say two people are dead and three others are recovering from injuries following a crash near Silver Lake Thursday morning.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol’s incident report, a westbound Ford Fusion on Highway 7 crossed the center line and hit an eastbound Ford Explorer just after 11 a.m..

The driver and passenger of the Explorer, identified in the report as a two women, ages 54 and 55, received injuries that were listed as non-life-threatening. They were both treated at Hutchinson Hospital.

However, the driver of the Fusion, identified as 25-year-old Wilmer Espinoza Herrera and his passenger, 21-year-old Fanny Ramirez Perez, died from injuries they received in the crash. Both Herrera and Perez were from Montevideo.

Authorities say two-year-old Wilmer Osmani Espinoza-Ramirez Jr., another passenger in the Fusion, also had injuries that were non-life threatening. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

Tow trucks and squad cars are at the scene of a crash that killed two people Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, on Highway 7 near Silver Lake, Minnesota. (KSTP)

The incident report states road conditions were wet at the time of the crash.

Late Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Transportation closed a portion of the highway and created a detour. Drivers were being asked to find alternate routes for several hours.

A previous version of this report can be found below.

INITIAL REPORT 8/18/22 – A fatal crash has forced a closure of part of Highway 7 near Silver Lake Thursday.

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the highway was closed just west of Silver Lake and a detour is in place.

The Minnesota State Patrol said two people died in the crash. More information on the victims is expected in the days ahead.

As of about 11:24 a.m., MnDOT was asking drivers to find alternate routes “for the next several hours.”

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates.