Mankato Crash Injures 18-Year-Old Driver

Mankato (trfnews.i234.me) — An 18-year-old woman was injured Sunday in a crash involving an SUV and semi.

The collision happened at about 2:28 p.m. on September 14, 2026.

It occurred at U.S. Highway 169 and U.S. Highway 14 in Mankato.

The Minnesota State Patrol said a 2016 Ford Explorer was traveling south on Highway 169.

A 2026 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer was coming from the eastbound Highway 14 ramp.

The semi was attempting to continue north on Highway 169 when the vehicles collided.

Teen Driver Injured

Eleanora Christine Silda, 18, of Montgomery, was driving the Ford Explorer.

She suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Silda was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato for treatment.

She was wearing a seat belt when the crash happened.

The Explorer’s airbags deployed during the collision.

Alcohol was not suspected as a factor for Silda, according to the crash report.

John Lester Coffman, 66, of Minneapolis, was driving the Peterbilt semi.

Coffman was not injured in the crash.

He was wearing a seat belt, and alcohol was not suspected.

The semi’s airbags did not deploy.

No passengers were listed in either vehicle.

The State Patrol listed the road condition as wet at the time of the crash.

The collision involved two vehicles and was classified as an injury crash.

North Mankato police and Mankato police assisted at the scene.

Mankato firefighters, Mayo Ambulance and the Minnesota Department of Transportation also responded.

Drivers can check current highway conditions through Minnesota 511.

Public crash information is available through the Minnesota State Patrol incident website.

The crash was assigned incident number 26201586.

The State Patrol marked the available information as complete Sunday afternoon.

Case information is available through the Mankato district at 507-344-2750.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.