A teenage driver was headed to Albert Lea High School hockey practice at City Arena on Wednesday afternoon when he apparently turned his sport-utility vehicle left in front of an oncoming minivan.

Tyler Brackey of Albert Lea was headed north on U.S. Highway 69 and turned his 2003 Ford Escape XLT westbound to take County Road 46. According to Albert Lea police officers, when he turned, he ended up in the path of a southbound 2005 Chrysler Town & Country minivan driven by Johnna Kermes of Hayward. Her airbags deployed, police said, and because the lower airbag hurt her legs, she was taken by ambulance to Albert Lea Medical Center.

Overall, however, both drivers seemed alert and OK. Brackey was talking to family, telling his father he still intended to attend hockey practice, and Kermes was in her driver’s seat talking on her cell phone before she was placed on a stretcher. Neither vehicle had passengers. Police said both drivers were wearing seat belts.

Brackey said he was shook up by the collision. His Escape ended up on its side and in the median for County 46, facing east. The minivan came to a stop facing west, even though it had been traveling south.

The junction is the northern terminus for U.S. Highway 69. By continuing north or south through the intersection, drivers go from U.S. 69 to Highway 13 or vice versa. The east-west route is West Main Street, but from the corner westward it is also County 14.

When the Escape was knocked onto the median for County 46, it toppled a stoplight for eastbound travelers of County 13. The junction has many overhanging traffic lights, but this was not one. It was a simple pole with lights for red, yellow and green in descending order and a “left turn yield on green” sign.

In addition to Albert Lea police officers and ambulance workers, Albert Lea firefighters also were at the scene.