Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A five-vehicle crash slowed midday traffic in Pennington County on December 2. Police say the chain reaction started near Pennington Avenue and Eastwood Drive just after noon.
Crash Near Backed-Up Intersection
According to the report, Roneisha Lashai Rose Brown of Thief River Falls was driving a 2008 Chevy Tahoe. Brown was heading north on Pennington Avenue when the crash sequence began. Traffic ahead was already backed up from the Greenwood Street roundabout.
Chain Reaction Involving Five Vehicles
Investigators say Brown’s Tahoe struck a 2023 Ford Explorer driven by Joni Hanson of Thief River Falls. The impact pushed Hanson’s vehicle forward into a 2018 Honda Accord. That car was driven by Collin Longo, also of Thief River Falls.
The chain reaction continued after Longo’s Accord was hit. His car then struck a Toyota Prius driven by Wayne Martine of Wahpeton, North Dakota. The Prius was pushed into a 2023 Chevy Traverse driven by Lauren Johnson of Thief River Falls.
All four drivers ahead of Brown were stopped or nearly stopped in traffic. They were waiting for vehicles to clear the Greenwood Street roundabout area. The backed-up traffic left little room to move when the first impact occurred.
Response, Injuries, and Citation
Police were called to the scene at 12:11 p.m. Officers blocked part of the roadway while they gathered information. Vehicles involved in the crash were lined up along the shoulder of the roadway.
The report released to the media listed possible injuries from the crash. It was not clear which driver reported injuries. No detailed medical information was immediately available.
Brown has been cited for careless driving in connection with the crash. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor traffic offense under Minnesota law. It can carry fines and may affect a driver’s record.
More information about Minnesota traffic laws is available from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Drivers can also review safe driving tips through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Authorities have not released a full damage estimate for the vehicles involved. No other citations or arrests had been announced as of the latest report. The crash remains under review by local law enforcement.
Officials Urge Extra Caution in Backed-Up Traffic
Officials often remind drivers to keep extra space in backed-up traffic. They also urge drivers to slow down when approaching intersections and roundabouts. Extra caution can help prevent chain reaction crashes like this one.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
