Pepin Township Crash Leaves 19-Year-Old Seriously Hurt

Pepin Township (trfnews.i234.me) — Two drivers were injured Tuesday morning in a crash on Highway 61.

The crash happened around 8:44 a.m. on September 15, 2026.

It occurred near mile marker 67 in Pepin Township, Wabasha County.

A 2006 Buick Lucerne was traveling south on Highway 61.

A 2020 GMC Sierra was traveling north on the highway.

The two vehicles then collided, according to the crash report.

Big Lake Woman Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries

Ellaina Renea Johnson, 19, of Big Lake, was driving the Buick Lucerne.

Johnson suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision.

She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for medical treatment.

The Buick’s airbags deployed during the crash.

Johnson was wearing a seat belt, according to the report.

Alcohol was not suspected in connection with her vehicle.

Neil Patrick Rude, 41, of Wabasha, was driving the GMC Sierra.

Rude suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.

He was taken to Wabasha Hospital for treatment.

The GMC’s airbags also deployed during the collision.

Rude was wearing a seat belt.

Alcohol was not suspected in connection with his vehicle.

The crash report listed the road condition as “other.”

No additional details about the road condition were provided.

The report also did not state what caused the vehicles to collide.

Wabasha County deputies assisted at the scene.

Wabasha police, firefighters, and ambulance crews also responded.

The officer’s name has been removed from this report.

Readers can view Minnesota crash information through the Minnesota State Patrol Crash Updates website.

Local government information is available through the Wabasha County website.

The State Patrol listed the information as complete.

The report was last updated at 10:59 a.m. Tuesday.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.