Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Howard Lake, Lester Prairie, Winsted, Watertown, Mayer, New Germany, Waverly, MN and the surrounding area

Three people injured in three car crash south of Winsted Feb. 24


WINSTED, MN – The McLeod County Sheriff’s Office responded to a three-vehicle crash in the area of Babcock Ave and 220th St, south of Winsted at 3:56 p.m. Saturday.
According to the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office, a 2009 Ford Explorer, owned and driven by Willis Fredrick Leistiko, 75, of Mayer, was southbound on Babcock Avenue. It received more than $1,000 damage when it was struck by a 2000 Mercury Sable, owned and driven by Rita Kaye Smith, 61, of Cokato. Smith’s vehicle also received more than $1,000 damage, according to the sheriff’s office.
Smith’s vehicle was northbound on Babcock Avenue.
Leistiko, his passenger, Janice Elaine Leistiko, 72, of Mayer, and Smith were all transported to Ridgeview Hospital in Waconia for injuries sustained.
A third vehicle, a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, owned and driven by John Gilbert Peterson, 75, of Cokato, was also northbound on Babcock Avenue. Peterson applied the brakes after seeing the initial crash, and ended up hitting vehicle the Sable after it bounced back from striking the Ford Explorer, according to the sheriff’s office.
Peterson and his passenger, Rebecca Lee Benoit, 64, of Cokato, signed off with Howard Lake ambulance and were not transported.
Also responding to the scene were the Winsted Police Department, the Winsted Fire Department, the Lester Prairie Fire Department, Ridgeview Ambulance, and Howard Lake Ambulance.

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