Couple from Prescott injured

COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. – Two women died as the result of a second fatal crash over the weekend, this time on US Highway 61 in Cottage Grove, Minn.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred around 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 when Julia Ann Bild, age 95, Cottage Grove, made a wrong turn onto Highway 61 at 80th Street, where she collided head-on with an Audi Q5 driven by Charles Tentinger, 66, Prescott. Bild was driving a silver 2010 Ford Fusion, which was captured on the Mn-DOT camera driving southbound in the left northbound lane. Shortly after Bild passed the camera, an SUV can be seen pulling over and backing up to assist the motorists after the crash. The camera then shifts to the scene a few minutes later when emergency crews were on the scene.

Tentinger had two passengers: wife Carol Tentinger, 64, Prescott, and Tanya Ann Mott, 32, Lakeville, Minn. Officials pronounced Bild and Mott dead at the scene. EMS transported the Tentingers to Regions Hospital with undisclosed injuries. As of Sunday night, Charles was in serious condition and Carol was in critical, but stable condition, according to a spokesman at Regions Hospital.

MN State Patrol and Cottage Grove Emergency Services were on the scene of the accident until around noon reconstructing and cleaning up the scene with the assistance of a tow company. Traffic was diverted onto the inner shoulder during the majority of the time that crews were on scene.

According to the report, the roadway was dry at the time of the accident, alcohol was not considered to be a factor in the crash and all four people were wearing their seat belts.

Traffic was backed up Sunday morning on northbound Highway 61 from Jamaica Avenue due to a wrong way driver causing a head on collision before the 80th street exit. Photo by Bruce Karnick