Two area teens were seriously injured at 1:56 p.m. Sunday when their car tangled with a semi tractor trailer on northbound I-35 at the US-8 exit in Forest Lake. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant was in the northbound I-35 exit only lane to eastbound US-8 and attempting to move to the through lane on I-35 when it encountered another vehicle. The Galant moved back to the exit only lane, overcorrected and spun out. It was then struck broadside by the Peterbuilt tractor driven by Heath J. Okerstrom, 35, of Forest Lake. The impact tossed the car to the median between the US-8 exit and I-35.

Okerstrom was not hurt in the crash. The driver and a passenger in the Galant both suffered serious injuries, according to the State Patrol. Late Monday, the youth were identified as Ryan A. Locke, 17, of North Branch, and Alexis M. Webber, 17, of Harris. Webber was driving the car, the State Patrol said. Webber was taken to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale by ground ambulance while North Air Care was called to transport Locke to North Memorial. 

(Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

---

Social Bookmarking ...