Two injured when SUV collides with MN State Patrol squad car Sunday

A driver and his passenger were seriously injured with their SUV collided with a Minnesota State Patrol squad car near Hanley Falls Sunday afternoon.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at about 5:17 p.m. on March 7, a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox being driven by Leo Roy Kack, age 88, of St. Leo, was westbound on County Road 18, east of Highway 23. At the same time, a Minnesota State Patrol squad car, being driven by Trooper Chad Patrick Nigg, age 48, of Marshall, was approaching County Road 18 with its emergency lights on.

The vehicles collided when Kack’s SUV entered the intersection with Highway 23. The trooper applied his brakes and moved to a right to attempt to avoid a crash, but both vehicles were totaled.

Kack’s passenger, Audrey Marie Kack, age 83, of St. Leo, was airlifted from the scene to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with believed non-life threatening injuries. Mr. Kack was transported to the Granite Falls hospital with serious but believed non-life threatening injuries.  The trooper was treated and released from the Granite Falls Hospital.

Assisting at the scene were the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marshall Police Department.