Four people injured in I-35 wreck
Published 4:30 pm Saturday, August 9, 2008
Four people were reported injured following a head-on collision Friday night on southbound Interstate 35.
A 2007 Ford pickup and a 2001 Ford pickup collided at 7:57 p.m. Friday near the Minnesota-Iowa border. The 2007 Ford was traveling northbound on I-35 when it crossed the median and collided head-on with the 2001 Ford, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Andy J. Kubena, 35, of Maplewood, was listed in critical condition with serious injuries at 9:45 a.m. Saturday at Mayo Clinic. He was the driver of the 2007 Ford, and reports state no alcohol was detected in his system.
Passengers in the 2001 Ford were June M. Modlin, 54, of Iowa Falls, Iowa; Teagun J. Sunde, 11, of Iowa; and Tayla M. Sunde, 15, of Minnesota, according to reports.
Modlin was listed on State Patrol reports at 10:44 a.m. Saturday in critical condition with serious injuries. She was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester Friday night. A Mayo Clinic spokeswoman did not have updated information on her condition as of 11 a.m. Saturday.
Teagun was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa, with serious injuries then transported to St. Marys Hospital, according to a Mercy Medical Center nursing supervisor. Per the family’s request, Teagun’s condition was not released as of 11 a.m. Saturday.
Tayla was treated for non-serious injuries and released from the Albert Lea Medical Center, according to Patty Hareid at ALMC.
Thomas M. Merklin, 61, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, did not sustain any apparent injuries, according to the State Patrol report. Merklin was the driver of the 2001 Ford.
Assisting agencies were the Albert Lea Police Department and the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office. Three Mayo Clinic helicopters were flown to the scene.