A Fairfax man was critically injured when his motorcycle blew a tire in Mower County over the weekend. Tanar Wayne Haala, 47, was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, with life-threatening injuries following the crash on Highway 16, between Grand Meadow and Spring Valley.

According to a state patrol crash report, Haala was westbound on the highway when the tire of his 2021 Indian motorcycle blew, throwing Haala and his passenger from the bike. The passenger was identified as Rachel Leeann Kuphal, 32, of Pipestone.  Kuphal was also transported to St. Mary’s, but with non-life threatening injuries.

Neither rider was wearing a helmet, according to the crash report, which also stated alcohol was not a factor.