Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

An Albert Lea man suffered life-threatening injuries Monday morning after he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed on Freeborn County Road 46 west of Albert Lea.

Lowell Bangert, 61, was taken by Mayo Ambulance to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and then transferred to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester by Mayo One helicopter.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office stated Lowell was traveling westbound in a Dodge Ram on Freeborn County Road 46 at about 10:44 a.m. when he fell asleep near 72403 County Road 46, entered the southbound ditch, struck a green utility box, traveled over a driveway, struck an electrical pole and rolled onto its passenger side.

Bangert was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and alcohol was not a factor.