Zumbota, MN : Two people killed and Two others injured in Head on Crash after southbound car southbound car and colliding with a semitrailer along Highway 52 on Friday , March 6h 2015

Two people were killed and two injured in head-on crashes that occurred north of Zumbrota within a half hour of each other Friday night on U.S. Highway 52.

In the first crash, which occurred several miles north of Zumbrota, a southbound car on Highway 52 crossed the median into the northbound lane, colliding with a semitrailer, according to a Minnesota State Patrol report. The stalled car then was struck by a second semi.

Two people in the car — Juan P. Martinez, 47, of Valrico, Fla., and Aishia Y. Ruiz, 23, of Minneapolis — were killed, the report says.

The third person in the car, Paul Martinez, 22, of Rochester, was transported to Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus, Rochester, with serious injuries. He wasn't listed as a patient on Monday morning, according to a Mayo Clinic spokeswoman.

Martinez's family has set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising money for Juan's funeral and Paul's medical expenses.

The drivers of the semis — Paul V. Eversman, 62, of Wabasha; and Mark E. Batz, 57, of Apple Valley — didn't appear to be injured, the report says. Both of them were wearing seat belts.

The crash was reported at 8:39 p.m.

Less than a half hour after the fatal crash, a two-car head-on crash occurred on southbound Highway 52 about four miles south of Cannon Falls.

A southbound car driven by Earl Booth, 54, of Minneapolis, struck a guardrail and was facing north when it was struck by a southbound car driven by Kelly J. Hovel, 38, of Zumbrota, according to a State Patrol report. Hovel showed no apparent injury.

source :
Family seeks help after fatal U.S. 52 crash