Two women are dead as a result of a crash between a UTV and a pickup truck that occurred April 13 in Benton County.
The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the identity of both women. The driver of the UTV was identified as Jamie Lea Jendro, 44, of Princeton. The UTV passenger was identified as Lindsay Erin Karsky, 34, of Oak Park.
At about 2:20 p.m. that day, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a crash on Ronneby Road NE between a UTV and a pickup truck. The crash site was reported as being in the 9600 block of Ronneby Road NE in Maywood Township.
Upon arrival at the scene, first responders found a gray 2011 Chevy Silverado in the east ditch of Ronneby Rd NE adjacent to a UTV that was fully engulfed in flames. Witnesses had already pulled the two women who had been inside the UTV from the burning wreckage. However, both women were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash as a result of their injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, Todd Lee Henke, 57, of Foley, suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and efforts to aid the victims in the UTV. The names of the two women on the UTV are being withheld pending positive identification by the medical examiner.
Investigating deputies found, prior to the crash, the UTV had been driving southbound on Ronneby Road NE and the pickup truck had been driving northbound on Ronneby Road NE. Witness statements gathered indicated that, prior to the crash, the UTV had been driving down the middle of the roadway at highway speeds. Evidence at the scene showed the point of impact between the UTV and pickup truck happened near the centerline of the roadway. The circumstances that led up to the crash continue to be under investigation. Deputies did not detect any signs of impairment from Henke at the scene.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at this scene by the Minnesota State Patrol, Foley Fire Department, Foley Police Department and North Ambulance.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the crash with the assistance of the Minnesota State Patrol.
