Faribault: Two Injured in I-35 Mini Cooper Rollover

FARIBAULT, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Two Minnesota men were injured Monday night after their Mini Cooper left Interstate 35 and rolled near Faribault.

The Minnesota State Patrol identified the driver as Tate Nathaniel Anderson, 27, of Kasson.

His passenger was identified as Kevin Rafael Perez, 32, of Northfield.

Both men suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to separate hospitals.

The crash occurred October 26, 2026, at approximately 11:53 p.m. in Rice County.

Mini Cooper Leaves Interstate 35 and Rolls

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2006 Mini Cooper was traveling southbound on Interstate 35.

The vehicle left the roadway near mile marker 61 in the Faribault area.

The Mini Cooper then rolled, resulting in injuries to both occupants.

The State Patrol reported wet road conditions at the time of the collision.

However, investigators did not identify wet pavement as a confirmed cause of the crash.

No other vehicles were listed as involved in the incident.

Kasson Driver Taken to Rochester Hospital

The Mini Cooper was driven by Tate Nathaniel Anderson, 27, of Kasson, Minnesota.

Anderson suffered injuries classified as non-life-threatening.

He was transported to Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester for medical treatment.

The State Patrol listed his seat belt use as unknown.

The report also indicated that the Mini Cooper’s airbags did not deploy.

No additional details about Anderson’s injuries or subsequent medical condition were provided.

Northfield Passenger Injured in Rollover

The passenger, Kevin Rafael Perez, 32, of Northfield, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Perez was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, also known as HCMC.

According to the crash report, Perez was not wearing a seat belt.

Authorities did not provide further details about his injuries or condition following transportation.

Alcohol Suspected for Driver, Not Confirmed

The State Patrol’s crash report lists alcohol as suspected for Anderson.

However, the report does not provide a blood alcohol concentration or confirm alcohol impairment.

Alcohol was not suspected for Perez, according to the report.

The available information does not identify any criminal charges or traffic citations associated with the crash.

The investigation details also do not establish whether alcohol contributed to the rollover.

Emergency Crews Respond to I-35 Crash

Several emergency agencies assisted at the crash scene near Faribault.

Responding agencies included the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, Faribault Fire Department, and Faribault Police Department.

The Minnesota State Patrol’s Rochester District handled the crash report.

The incident was recorded under case number 26104560.

The State Patrol last updated the report at approximately 10:06 p.m. on October 27, 2026.

The agency marked the information as believed complete.

Official Minnesota State Patrol Information

The crash was classified as an injury incident involving one vehicle.

Both occupants survived with injuries described as non-life-threatening in the supplied report.

Readers can review available incidents through the Minnesota State Patrol Crash Updates website.

Additional information about the incident may be requested from the State Patrol’s Rochester District at 507-923-2040.

No further information about the cause of the rollover was established in the available report.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.