AITKIN, MN — Two people died and several others were injured in a four-vehicle crash on Friday, Oct. 4, at 5:15 p.m. in Waukenabo Township, Aitkin County.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 1993 GMC Suburban was pulling a trailer eastbound on County Highway 3 when it failed to stop at a stop sign at Highway 169. A northbound 2019 GMC Yukon struck the Suburban, causing significant damage.
The Yukon also collided with a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2009 Dodge Ram, which were waiting in the westbound lanes, resulting in moderate damage.
Passengers in the Suburban, Elizabeth Jane Baldwin, 61, and Marlo Dean Baldwin, 92, both of Minnetonka, suffered fatal injuries. Elizabeth was not wearing a seatbelt, officials reported. The driver of the Suburban, Roger John Walker, 61, also of Minnetonka, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
The driver of the Yukon, Lisa Mae Melberg, 44, and her passengers, Carly Ann Melberg, 11, and Haley Rae Melberg, 14, all from Zimmerman, were transported to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with life-threatening injuries. Daisie Mae Melberg, 15, and Ally Mae Melberg, 18, suffered non-life-threatening injuries; Daisie was transported to HCMC, while Ally was not.
Robert John Davidson, 18, of Zimmerman, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital by private vehicle. The drivers of the Jeep and Dodge, David James Louisiana, 60, of St. Paul, and Timothy Allan Thompson, 57, of Palisade, were unharmed.
Assisting at the scene were the Hill City Police Department and the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office.