Accident briefs

Soudan woman injured in sideswipe accident
REGIONAL- A 69-year-old Soudan woman was injured Monday evening when an unidentified vehicle illegally passed another vehicle on Hwy. 169 northeast of Virginia and sideswiped the pickup truck in which she was riding.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 5:48 p.m. near mile marker 371, about three miles northeast of the Hwy. 169 and Hwy. 53 junction.
Gary Martin Salmela, 77, of Soudan, was driving a 2023 Dodge Ram northbound when an unidentified southbound vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone, sideswiping Salmela’s pickup. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene.
Salmela’s passenger, Kathleen Marie Salmela, 69, of Soudan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health in Virginia. Gary Salmela was not injured. Both were wearing seat belts, and the pickup’s airbags deployed.
The State Patrol did not identify the make or model of the fleeing vehicle.
Road conditions were dry at the time of the crash. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia Fire Department, and Virginia EMS assisted at the scene.

Soudan man injured in early morning rollover on Hwy. 1
BREITUNG TWP- A 21-year-old Soudan man was injured early Tuesday morning when his car rolled over on Hwy. 169 between Tower and Soudan.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Preston James Anderson was driving eastbound in a 2025 Toyota Camry shortly before 3:40 a.m. when the vehicle rolled and came to rest on its roof across the highway between mile markers 264 and 265.
Anderson, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health in Virginia for treatment. The vehicle’s airbags deployed.
Road conditions were dry at the time of the crash and the State Patrol reported that alcohol use was suspected.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Tower Ambulance, Tower EMS, Virginia Fire Department, and St. Louis County Rescue Squad assisted at the scene.