Semi rear-ends second semi on Highway #60 near Heron Lake
A rear-end accident on Minnesota State Highway #60 between Wilder and Heron Lake (three miles east of Heron Lake, about one mile from the Heron Lake Ethanol Plant), sent a 49-year-old Trimont man, Michael L. Junker, to Sanford Hospital-Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, Junker was driving a 2003 Volvo semi east on Highway #60, traveling behind a 2014 Freightliner semi driven by Michael G. Schultz, 54, of Lake Crystal, also traveling east. The Volvo rear-ended the Freightliner. Schultz had no apparent injury. No alcohol was detected in either driver.
A Minnesota State Highway Patrol trooper that witnessed the accident, removed Junker from his semi cab before burst into flames after it hit a guard rail, and came to rest in the median.
The accident closed eastbound traffic on Highway #60, as well as one of the westbound lanes, while the damaged semis and trailers, as well as debris strewn along the highway, was cleaned up. Traffic was re-routed around the accident scene during that time.
The Volvo semi is considered a total loss, while the trailer of the Freightliner semi sustained severe damage.
Assisting the Minnesota State Highway Patrol on the scene were the Heron Lake Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Heron Lake Fire Department, Windom Fire Department and Windom Ambulance Squad.
