Crash with Injuries in Fairhaven Townsite
On Sunday evening at 7:20 P.M., the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received reports of a crash with injuries near the intersection of County Roads 7 and 44 on the north side of Fairhaven Townsite. Parties on the scene told dispatchers that there were multiple injuries and that one person may have been ejected from the vehicle.
Upon arrival, deputies learned that a 2022 Ford Expedition, driven by 16-year-old Gavin Timmers of St. Augusta, was traveling westbound on County Road 44 approaching the intersection with County Road 7. This intersection is controlled by stop signs for westbound traffic on County Road 44 and eastbound traffic on 140th Street. The Ford Expedition entered the intersection and collided with a Dodge Ram truck, driven by 42-year-old Katie Payne of Maple Lake. She was traveling northbound on County Road 7 approaching County Road 44.
The Ford Expedition was occupied by passengers – 79-year-old Patrick Ternes of St. Cloud; 56-year-old Tina Timmers of St. Augusta; 49-year-old Ehren Timmers of St. Augusta; and 19-year-old Grant Timmers of St. Augusta. The Dodge Ram was occupied by passengers – 15-year-old Kyrsten Payne of Maple Lake, and 47-year-old Ryan Payne of Maple Lake.
The impact at the intersection caused the Timmers Ford Expedition to roll. Care was provided to all occupants at the scene by responding law enforcement, fire departments and ambulance services. Despite life-saving attempts on the scene, Tina Timmers was declared deceased at the crash location. All other parties were treated at the scene for a variety of injuries and transported to the St. Cloud Hospital.
The Minnesota State Patrol was requested to respond to the scene and will be providing a crash reconstruction report. The crash remains under investigation. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, South Haven Fire & Rescue, Mayo Ambulance Service, and the Watkins Ambulance Service.
