3 die on Minn. roads over weekend

by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Three people died in traffic accidents on Minnesota roads this weekend.

Two of the deceased were killed in accidents Sunday. A 56-year-old Pipestone woman, Lana Lewis, died in a head-on collision between Pipestone and Marshall about 2:30 Sunday afternoon. The driver of the pickup she was in was also critically injured. Two South Dakota residents in the oncoming minvan suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Several hours later, the driver of an SUV south west of Alexandria rolled his vehicle after driving off of Highway 114. He died after being airlifted to the hospital in St. Cloud. He has not yet been identified by the State Patrol.

On Saturday night, a head-on collision near Starbuck gravely injured the men's basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University, and killed his infant son, Drake. Brad Bigler was left in critical condition by the crash, as was his wife's grandmother, who was also in the car. Bigler's wife was also hurt in the crash.

They were struck head-on by a 38-year-old Starbuck man, who police suspect had been drinking.