One Dead After Vehicle Rollover Near Melrose

One person has died after a rollover crash near Melrose in Stearns County in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 9.

According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a crash with injuries near the intersection of County Road 186 and Sherwood Road in Grove Township, a few miles west of Melrose. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a 2005 Dodge Durango lying in the ditch.

The Durango appeared to have been traveling southeast on County Road 186 when it failed to navigate a curve, entered the ditch, and struck a field approach. The vehicle rolled and sustained heavy damage to the roof. Deputies found 34-year-old Pedro Gomez Dela Cruz of Melrose lying outside of the Durango and determined him to be deceased.

A male passenger, 38-year-old Luis Valencia, also of Melrose, was later located walking eastbound on County Road 186. He suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to CentraCare Hospital in Melrose.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Melrose Police Department, the Melrose Fire Department, and Melrose Ambulance Service. The Minnesota State Patrol has been asked to reconstruct the incident, and it remains under investigation.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.