On December 25, 2025, at approximately 4:57 PM, the Stearns County Emergency Communications Center received multiple 911 calls regarding a two-vehicle collision on County Road 17, just north of 425th Street in Millwood Township. This intersection is a quarter mile north of the city of Saint Rosa.
Deputies arrived to find two vehicles severely damaged. David Riegel, 54, of Jordan was driving a 2018 Honda CRV southbound on County Road 17 when the CRV began to fishtail on the icy roads. Joseph Engelmeyer, 57, of Melrose, was driving northbound on County Road 17 in a 2017 Ford Explorer and attempted to drive into the ditch to avoid the CRV. The back passenger side of the CRV struck the Explorer on the driver’s side, causing the Explorer to spin around and land on the driver’s side in the east ditch.
David Riegel and his passenger, Michelle Spies, 51, of Jordan, were uninjured. Joseph Engelmeyer and his passenger, Kimberly Engelmeyer, 55, of Melrose, were transported to the Melrose Hospital for suspected minor injuries. Emily Engelmeyer, 17, of Melrose was a backseat passenger in the Explorer and was uninjured. All parties were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, and both vehicles had airbag deployment.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Freeport Fire and Rescue and Melrose Area Ambulance.
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