Fiery Car-Semi Collison in Southern Minnesota Sends 2 to Hospital

Owatonna, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two drivers were taken to a hospital after a fiery collision in southern Minnesota early Tuesday morning. 

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The State Patrol responded to a collision between a semi and sedan at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and Steele County Rd. 43. It was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. 

The crash report says the sedan, driven by 55-year-old Kirk Bradley Ruzek of Owatonna, was traveling south on County Rd. 43 through the intersection when it collided with the semi that was eastbound on Hwy. 14. 

A MnDOT traffic camera at the intersection captured the collision and showed a fireball burst from underneath the semi’s trailer. The semi then crashed into the ditch. 

Ruzek and the truck driver, identified as 63-year-old Michael Joseph Vogel of Madison Lake, MN, were both taken to a nearby hospital with what are being described as non-life-threatening injuries. Traffic camera footage shows crews were still at the scene as of 9:40 Tuesday morning. 

The report says both drivers were buckled up and that alcohol was not involved in the fiery crash. The Owatonna Fire Department, Mayo Clinic Ambulance and Steele County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash scene.