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BYRON — Olmsted and Rochester law enforcement officials continue to investigate a three-vehicle accident initiated by a head-on collision that left three people critically injured Friday evening near Oxbow Park north of Byron.
Officials have identified one of the critically injured as Molly Riese, 24. Two adult males were also critically injured, but authorities have yet to ascertain their identities.
"We're sifting through the wreckage trying to find wallets and things of that nature, so we haven't confirmed their identifies yet," said Olmsted County Sheriff Deputy Rich Carmack.
Officials say two other people were also involved in the accident, but they were uninjured. They are David Haukom, 74, and Mary Haukom, 77.
The crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Olmsted County roads 4 and 5, along the 4600 block of County Road 5. An official said a preliminary investigation shows that the vehicle with the two males inside were attempting to pass the Haukom vehicle in a no-passing zone along the two-lane road, when it collided head-on with the vehicle driven by Riese. Her vehicle spun and struck the Haukom vehicle, which ended up in a ditch.
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Two medical helicopters, one from North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, took at least two of the victims from the scene. Ground ambulances also were used.
Carmack said investigators with the Rochester/Olmsted County Forensic Mapping Unit were at the scene after the accident Friday night and planned to continue their investigation today. But officials have been unable, for instance, to interview the two injured adult males due to the extent of their injuries.
"They are going to do some more (at the scene) today and maybe try and pull black boxes out of vehicles and see if we can determine speeds involved and such," Carmack said.
Carmack said it didn't appear, at least at this stage of the investigation, that alcohol or poor road conditions contributed to the collision.
Reports indicate at least one of the patients was unrestrained and sustained broken bones and head injuries.
