On November 10th, 2018, at approximately 11:20 p.m., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a crash with injuries. The caller was reporting the crash occurred approximately two minutes ago on 400th Street and 215th Avenue in Krain Township. This location is approximately 1.5 miles west of County Road 10 on 400th Street.
According to Sheriff Don Gudmundson, a 2010 black Ford F-150 crew cab pick-up, owned by Russell and Paula Klaphake of Avon and driven by Zachary Klaphake, 17, of Avon, was westbound on 400th Street when he failed to negotiate the curve, left the road and struck a large tree head on.
Zachary Klaphake, the driver, called the crash into 911. Initial reports claimed one occupant had minor injuries, one had a head injury, two were semi-conscious and the female occupant had an injured leg, possibly broken.
Adam Young, 17, of Albany, was the front seat passenger. Nathan Tamm, 18, of Albany, was in the backseat behind the driver (Klaphake). Next to Tamm was Alayna Mae Kolb, 16, of Albany, then Nathan Schmidt, 18, of Albany and Jacob Burg, 15, of Avon, was behind Young.
It is believed that Klaphake, Young and Tamm were wearing their seat belts and it is believed the other occupants were unrestrained. The air bags in the Ford were deployed on impact. The truck is considered to be totaled as a result of the crash.
Schmidt was flown from the crash scene by North Air Ambulance to North Memorial Hospital. Young was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital by Gold Cross Ambulance then airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC). As of Sunday evening, November 11th, Schmidt and Young were in critical but stable condition.
Klaphake, Tamm, Kolb, and Burg were treated at the St. Cloud Hospital for their injuries. As of Saturday evening, these four occupants were treated and released.
Investigation of the crash shows the F-150 was westbound on 400th Street when it ran off the road where it curves to the left and struck a tree. Klaphake was the driver. The investigation provided evidence that Klaphake had been consuming alcoholic beverages. He was asked to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) which revealed the presence of alcohol.
A warrant was obtained for a blood sample from Klaphake. Further alcohol testing will occur at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Lab in St. Paul.
The Minnesota State Patrol will be conducting a reconstruction of the accident scene. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be referred to the Stearns County Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges.
Several Stearns County Deputies responded to the scene of the crash along with the Holdingford Fire Department, Gold Cross Ambulance, the Minnesota State Patrol and a helicopter from North Air Ambulance.