State Patrol ID’s Man Involved With Highway 71 Crash

A 26-year-old Blackduck man has been identified who was seriously injured in a two-car crash Monday night on U.S. Highway 71.

The Minnesota State Patrol says that the road conditions were listed as Icy when the crash was reported shortly after 10:00 Monday night at milepost 322 on Highway 71.

The State Patrol says that a 2001 GMC Sierra was northbound on Highway 71 and a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix was southbound. The Grand Prix lost control on the “slushy, slippery road” and crossed the centerline, where it was struck on the passenger side by the GMC.

The driver 37- year- old Robert Ortez, of Minneapolis and passenger of the GMC, 31- year- old Samantha Johnson, of Tenstrike, were taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, the report said. Both were wearing seatbelts and the airbags in the GMC deployed.

The patrol’s report said that 26- year- old Job Rivera, of Blackduck, was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in Bemidji with serious injuries. The report said Rivera also was wearing his seatbelt and the airbag deployed.