Hewitt Man Dies in Highway 71 Crash in Todd County

Collision between two northbound vehicles leaves one driver dead, the other injured but stable.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:50pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car windshield or crumpled vehicle part, capturing the gritty aftermath of a fatal collision on a rural highway.A fatal collision on a rural Minnesota highway exposes the tragic human cost of traffic accidents.Hewitt Today

A 26-year-old man from Hewitt, Minnesota was killed in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 71 in Bertha Township, Todd County on Thursday night. The other driver, a 20-year-old Hewitt resident, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Why it matters

Fatal car accidents on rural highways are an ongoing public safety concern, especially in areas with high traffic volume and limited visibility. This incident highlights the need for continued road safety improvements and driver education to prevent such tragedies.

The details

According to the Minnesota State Patrol report, the crash occurred around 10:49 p.m. when the 26-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Silverado and the 20-year-old driver of a Toyota Camry, both traveling northbound on Highway 71, collided near the intersection of Palomino Road in Bertha Township. The 26-year-old driver was killed, while the other driver was transported to Astera Hospital in Wadena with non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash.

  • The two-vehicle crash occurred at 10:49 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Blake Jason Baumgartner

A 26-year-old man from Hewitt, Minnesota who was killed in the crash while driving a Chevrolet Silverado northbound on Highway 71.

Johnathan Andrew Freyholtz

A 20-year-old man from Hewitt, Minnesota who was driving a Toyota Camry northbound on Highway 71 and sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the collision.

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The takeaway

This tragic accident on a rural Minnesota highway underscores the importance of continued road safety improvements, driver education, and vigilance to prevent such devastating crashes in the future.