Pine River,MN : 2 suffer life-threatening injuries in crash on Saturday, 5th May 2018

Two people in their 20s suffered life-threatening injuries when the car they were in collided with a semitrailer on Highway 2.

The crash, 4 miles east of Cass Lake, was reported at 1:42 p.m. Saturday.


Kara Lee Smith, 28, Duluth, was driving a Lincoln Town Car west on Highway 2 in the wrong lane of traffic/shoulder area near the intersection with Pike Bay Loop Northwest. The Minnesota State Patrol reported Smith then corrected the vehicle back onto the highway and collided head-on with an eastbound semitrailer driven by William Joseph Black.

Smith was reported to be in critical condition and was transported via North Air Ambulance to St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth. The passenger in the Town Car, Beau James Grotberg, 29, Duluth, was also in critical condition and was transported via Sanford Med Air to Sanford Medical in Fargo, N.D.

Black, 67, Wadena, was reported to have a non-life-threatening injury and was evaluated on scene.

Smith and Black were both wearing seat belts. It was undetermined if Grotberg was wearing one. Road conditions were reported as dry.

Cass County Sheriff's Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police & DNR, Minnesota DNR, Cass Lake Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Source :
2 suffer life-threatening injuries in crash