On November 29, 2018 at approximately 2:31 p.m., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash with injuries on County Road 13 near 395th Street in Melrose Township. Two vehicles were involved in the crash. Responding officers were advised one of the vehicles was fully engulfed in flames but all occupants were out of the vehicle.
According to Sheriff Don Gudmundson, a 2002 GMC Sierra driven by David Theiler, 56, of Melrose, was attempting to cross County Road 13 to go to a neighbor’s house. Theiler’s driveway is located directly across the county road from the neighbor’s driveway. Theiler began to cross the road when he was struck by a 2008 Chevy Cobalt driven by Loretta Thull, 78, of Melrose.
The Chevy Cobalt struck the GMC Sierra in the bed of the truck. The Cobalt started on fire shortly after striking the GMC Sierra. Both Loretta and her husband, Herbert Thull, 81, of Melrose, were helped out of the vehicle by Theiler.
A short time later the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The Melrose Fire Department responded to extinguish the flames.
Loretta and Herbert Thull were transported to the Melrose Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Melrose Police Department, Melrose Fire and Rescue and Melrose Ambulance.