On May 3, 2025, at approximately 12:45 p.m. the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received a call of a crash with injuries at the intersection of County Road 17 and County Road 3. The callers were reporting a T-bone style crash with airbag deployment. They also reported one vehicle was on its roof and the other vehicle was pushed into the northwest ditch of the intersection.
A MN DNR Officer was the first to arrive on scene and requested multiple ambulances. When Stearns County Deputies arrived on scene, they determined that Shailyn Welinski, 18, of Holdingford, was driving a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta northbound on County Road 3 approaching the intersection of County Road 17. That intersection is controlled for north and southbound traffic on County Road 3 by stop signs. Ryan Harris, 33, of Melrose, was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram westbound on County Road 17. The Jetta was struck in the passenger’s side at the intersection.
Welinski was transported by Life Link helicopter, Thomas Torstenson, 66, of Sauk Centre, a passenger in the truck, was transported by Mayo Ambulance, and Harris by a private party to the hospital. The crash remains under investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Holdingford Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance, Life Link helicopter, Minnesota DNR, and the Minnesota State Patrol. The Steans County Sheriff’s Office has requested that the MN State Patrol assist with accident reconstruction.
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