20-Feb-2026

Fatal Crash

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in Benton County on Thursday morning. The incident happened east of St. Cloud on Highway 95 near 65th Avenue NE at around 6:45 a.m. The patrol says a Ford Mustang was eastbound on Highway 95 when the driver lost control and struck a westbound Ford Ranger. Three other vehicles were also westbound and collided while trying to avoid the initial crash. The patrol says the driver of the Mustang, 29-year-old  Austin Greenwaldt of St. Cloud, was killed in the crash. The driver of the pickup, 21-year-old Oscar Pendergrass of Cambridge, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of a Jeep Renegade, 47-year-old Christina Dimler of Zimmerman, was also taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other two drivers, 51-year-old Eric Beehler of Foley and 34-year-old Hope Nelson of Foley, were not hurt. The patrol says the highway was snow and ice-covered at the time of the crash.

20-Feb-2026

Highway Crashes

A winter storm that hit the region Tuesday night into Wednesday caused more than 800 crashes across Minnesota and North Dakota, according to road officials. The Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) reported 468 property damage crashes from midnight Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, with 34 injury crashes and 374 vehicles sliding off roadways. Updated numbers from Wednesday night through Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. showed an additional 88 property damage crashes, 10 injury crashes and one fatal crash .In North Dakota, the Highway Patrol reported 41 crashes from midnight Wednesday through 9 a.m. Thursday, with none resulting in serious injury. 30 of those crashes occurred in the Southeast Region. Officials also responded to 71 motorist assists, with 32 in the Southeast Region, for a total of 297 statewide events. The combined totals from both states exceeded 800 crashes in a 24-hour period.

20-Feb-2026

Two Vehicle Crash

Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash near Paynesville. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 6:30 p.m. on Thursday on Highway 23. One vehicle was traveling west on the highway while the second vehicle was traveling south on 293rd Avenue when they collided.Ninety-three-year-old Geraline Heitke of Paynesville and her passenger, 91-year-old Ruby Elmhorst of Paynesville, were both taken to CentraCare Paynesville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.   Thirty-six-year-old Zachary Haaf of Paynesville was also taken to CentraCare Paynesville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol was assisted by Mayo Ambulance, Paynesville Fire and Police, and CentraCare Ambulance.

19-Feb-2026

Sheriff Warns Of Ice Conditions

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is warning icehouse owners to check their shelters immediately after recent weather conditions caused dangerous ice deterioration on area lakes. The sheriff’s office said Wednesday in a Facebook post that they have received multiple reports of open water forming around icehouses on lakes throughout the county. Large holes have developed beneath and around ice shelters, and several icehouses have broken through the ice. Officials are urging icehouse owners to inspect ice conditions around their shelters and remove them as soon as possible if conditions appear unsafe. Owners should not return shelters to the ice until conditions improve. The sheriff’s office said ice conditions can change rapidly during periods of fluctuating temperatures and precipitation. What appears safe one day can quickly become hazardous the next. Residents and visitors are urged to use extreme caution when traveling on frozen lakes and to check ice thickness frequently. No injuries or rescues have been reported at this time.

19-Feb-2026

Woman Dies In House FGire

A woman died in a house fire early Wednesday morning in Osage, while a man escaped and was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and possible burns. The fire broke out around 4:24 a.m. on Feb. 18 in the Becker County community, located about 30 miles east of Detroit Lakes. A male resident fled the burning home and flagged down a driver on State Highway 34, telling the motorist that a woman might still be trapped inside. Emergency crews from the Carsonville and Park Rapids fire departments responded, along with a Becker County sheriff’s deputy. Firefighters found the woman inside the home and pronounced her dead at the scene. The man was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids for treatment. Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office said it will release the victims’ names after the woman’s autopsy is completed. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the investigation. North Memorial Ambulance and Carsonville Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.