State Patrol: Driver Silencing Call Caused 5-Vehicle Injury Crash in Byron

Byron, MN (KROC-AM News)- The State Patrol is alleging a distracted driver caused a multi-vehicle injury accident in Byron on Thursday. 

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Five vehicles were involved. The State Patrol says the drivers were the only occupants of the vehicles. 

First responders were called to the crash shortly before 5:30 p.m. 

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Owatonna Woman Taken to Hospital After Districted Driving 5-Vehicle Crash on Hwy. 14 in Byron

The crash occurred less than a mile east of the Hwy. 14 and 10th Ave. SE intersection in Byron. 

A Brownsdale woman traveling west on Hwy. 14 in a Jeep was attempting to silence a call while the vehicles in front of her were slowing for a blinking yellow traffic light, according to the State Patrol. 

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She then rear-ended a crossover vehicle, which caused a chain reaction crash that included a pick-up, another crossover and minivan, the state crash report says. 

49-year-old Kelly Jean Van Esch of Owatonna was driving the crossover struck by the Jeep. The State Patrol says she was taken to a Mayo Clinic Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Authorities identified the Jeep driver as 40-year-old Nicole Michelle Sackett. She escaped the crash without injuries. 

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The other drivers, identified as 48-year-old Aimee Rebekah Burnam of Byron, 23-year-old Liam Thomas Dublin of Owatonna and 43-year-old Kurt Robert Oelkers of Byron were not hurt, the State Patrol says. 

All five drivers were buckled up and alcohol was not involved in the crash, according to the state crash report. 

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Mayo Clinic Ambulance and the Byron Fire Department also responded to the crash.