BACKUS, Minn. — An 83-year-old Backus woman died in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday, April 6, on Highway 371.
The crash was reported to the Minnesota State Patrol at 7:36 a.m. at Highway 371 and Haddix Circle Northwest in Powers Township, just north of Backus. A Chevy Silverado was northbound on Highway 371 when it crossed into the southbound traffic lane and collided with a Ford Escape.
Susan Ann Bye-Elyea, a passenger in the Ford, died at the scene. Road conditions were listed as snow-covered and icy at the time of the crash, the State Patrol reported.
The driver of the Chevy, Stephen Ertl, 56, St. Cloud, and his passenger, Ryan Skaja, 26, Foley, Minnesota, both suffered non life-threatening injuries and were transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
The driver of the Ford, Leo Elyea, 86, Backus, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.
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The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Backus Fire Department assisted the State Patrol at the scene of the crash.
