FARIBAULT, Minn — Following a head-on crash in Faribault Saturday, all teens have been released from the hospital and are home recovering from their injuries.
Faribault police say officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of 9th Ave. SW around 1:40 p.m. after several 911 calls reporting a crash with multiple injuries and one driver still trapped inside a vehicle.
Responding squads found two vehicles – a Ford F-150 pickup with a single occupant, and a Chevy Silverado pickup with four inside – had collided head-on. First responders immediately began providing aid to all the victims, who were between the age of 15 and 18.
“It’s really scary stuff,” Faribault High School Athletic Director Shane Gunderson said.
Three of the teens injured are on the Faribault hockey team. After postponing their game last Saturday, the team took the ice for the first time on Thursday playing their close rival Northfield.
“It’s kind of cathartic for them to get back out and skate,” Gunderson said.
He added that the players, who are likely out for the rest of the season, wanted the team to play.
At the game, community members were making donations to the Faribault Strong fund at Reliance Bank to help the families cover medical costs. A former Faribault student also designed shirts for community members to buy with proceeds going to the students.
“We are a close-knit community, and everyone is really coming together for the students,” Gunderson said.
The 18-year-old male driver of the Chevy and a 17-year-old female passenger both suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center for treatment. A 15-year-old male riding in the Chevy was taken to Allina Medical Center in Faribault by ambulance with injuries listed as serious, as was a 15-year-old male with minor injuries.
Police say the 17-year-old driver of the Ford pickup suffered only a minor injury.
"We’re just thankful that they’re still alive and they get to come back,” Faribault Principal Joel Olson said.
Bethlehem Academy and Faribault High School have counselors available for students. Faribault police have called in the Minnesota State Patrol Accident Reconstruction Team in an attempt to determine exactly what led to the head-on crash. One thing investigators did say is that driver impairment is not suspected as a contributing factor.
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