On January 7, 2026, at 5:34 P.M., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the address of 36785 County Road 12 in Oak Township for motor vehicle crash with injuries. The Melrose Police Department, Melrose Fire and Rescue, and Melrose Ambulance also responded. The incident address is several miles north of New Munich.
It was reported that a vehicle and tractor were involved. It was also reported a male was trapped inside the vehicle. That vehicle was identified as a Chrysler Sebring driven by the sole occupant, Daniel Hoppe, 74, of New Munich. The tractor was identified as a McCormick MTX135 hauling a loaded 275 Hagedorn Manure Spreader and was being operated by Jason Bauer, 53, of Melrose.
The tractor was traveling northbound on County Road 12 at approximately 25 MPH with the flashing lights activated. The Sebring was also traveling northbound on County Road 12 at approximately 55 MPH closing in on the tractor. The driver of the Sebring said there were no lights ahead of him and that is what caused him to rear-end the spreader. The driver of the Sebring was wearing a seatbelt and the airbags deployed. The driver of the tractor was not injured.
Melrose Fire and Rescue and Melrose Ambulance provided patient care and transported Hoppe to the Melrose Hospital for further treatment.
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