Patrol: Alcohol Involved In Fatal Head-On Crash In Rice County

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities in southern Minnesota say alcohol was involved in a head-on crash early Sunday morning that left a woman dead.

The State Patrol says the crash happened shortly after midnight on Highway 19 near Webster Township in Rice County. A Lincoln Navigator was going the wrong way in the highway's westbound lane when it collided head-on with a Volkswagen EOS.

Kacy Merseal, the driver of the Volkswagen, died. The 29-year-old was from Des Moines, Iowa.

Her passenger, 30-year-old Tanya Von Weine, of Story City, Iowa, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Northfield Hospital for treatment.

Both Merseal and Von Weine were wearing seat belts, the patrol says.

The driver of the Navigator, 29-year-old Brandon Dellwo, of Shakopee, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was also brought to Northfield Hospital for treatment.

The State Patrol says he had been drinking prior to the crash.