Three injured in Hwy.14 accident on Owatonna

WASECA — An Owatonna couple and a Waseca man were injured after a head-on accident Wednesday afternoon on Highway 14.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at approximately 12:18 p.m., Owatonna residents Berniece and Gerald Schroht, both age 70, were heading east on Highway 14 when they were hit head-on by Lyle Sellers, 27.

Sellers was driving west on Highway 14 in a 1995 Beretta when he swerved to the shoulder to miss an animal that was running across the road. Minnesota State Patrol said Sellers then over-corrected and swerved into the path of the Schroht’s 2001 Toyota Avalon. Berniece Schroht was driving.

Sellers reportedly suffered multiple injuries to his lower body. Berniece Schroht suffered a broken leg and Gerald Schroht suffered chest and hip injuries.

The State Patrol reported two of the victims were airlifted away from the scene in a North Memorial helicopter but did not specify which two.

All parties were wearing a seatbelt according to the State Patrol.

The accident left both lanes of Highway 14 to be closed until about 2 p.m. as investigators pieced together the events.

The Waseca County Sheriff’s Office, Steele County Sheriff’s Office, Waseca Fire and Police and Gold Cross Ambulance also responded to the scene.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

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Member Opinions: By: Thinking_Outloud on 10/28/09 Aaaaand another one... Hope every one recovers quickly. And I hope the 'powers that be' can live with themselves for saying that Hwy 14 project is not important. By: creegers on 10/28/09 lyle should get a ticket! never swerve to miss an animal! never. I been in the business to long, or take the ditch. its called inattenitive driving. I do hope there all right though. By: awful_sick on 10/28/09 Kill the animal, save lives! Never swerve, the car will protect you from the impact with whatever animal you hit. Plus the insurance company needs evidence of the aminal; hair, blood etc, to handle the case properly. Your word will not do, period. If a deer or whatever runs out in front of you, hit it. I have a friend who lives in Wyoming and swerved to miss a large bird and ended up in the hospital with a broken neck and back. The bird was saved but he has never been the same. By: crazyasever on 10/28/09 can't wait till that waseca bypass is finished......that has to be the worst of 14. they are going to finish it aren't they?!?!? By: slundber on 10/28/09 They are going to finish it in about 15 years, crazy. See the related story. By: mnnewsjunkie on 10/28/09 Thank you for pulling the slanderous comments OPP. It is greatly appreciated by Lyles family. By: Gymnast1923 on 10/28/09 Didnt mean to be "slanderous" sorry to offend anyone, just stating a fact. when someone cuases me personal distress by their actions I have a tendency to speak my mind. I appologize to Lyles family for my comment.... By: ridiculous on 10/28/09 WOW - once again we all pretend to be perfect! I can only imagine that all of you stating that you would NEVER swerve don't ever swerve out of reaction! My prayers are with BOTH families! By: nberry79 on 10/28/09 My prayers and thoughts are with both families......this was an accident people!! By: Jesus_isKing on 10/28/09 Watch out for the animals for sure. Too many people get hurt due to them. I feel at times it is a natural reaction to swerve and before you know it, you are in trouble. Save yourself! Good advice above too regarding the insurance portion. The deer are showing up more and more as a reminder to drive and LOOK for them. By: schro085 on 10/28/09 I am a grandchild of Gerry & Berniece, and both are in good spirits. Thanks for the nice comments, I will pass them along. By: singleowatonnamom on 10/28/09 My thoughts and prayers go out to both families involved in this awful accident. By: onetime2 on 10/28/09 Just to set the record straight..I am related to Lyle and he is trying to be in good spirits. He feels horrible for what happened and will be facing surgery and a wheelchair for a few months because of this. The only tears he has shed is for the elderly couple, not for himself. It was an accident and no one knows how they will react until they are in the same situation. So, unless you have been there, you don't know the whole story and can't judge anyone! By: badger69 on 10/29/09 I read the comments on never swerve to miss an animal. Does that mean that Wednesday morning the car I was following should not have swerved to miss the kid darting out between the cars and just ran him over for insurance proof? The Monday Morning QB's always know the right answers. By: charliebrown on 10/29/09 a child is not an animal, that is the difference. Do not swerve to miss an animal, but do what you need to do to protect people. It is a no-brainer. By: awful_sick on 10/29/09 badger69 you didn't really just say, did you? If you cannot decide whether or not to hit a child I would like to request that you go down to the nearest police dept and turn your license in. You obviously have no clue or, quite possibly,are just looking for a fight. Your comment is just plain ignorant. By: awful_sick on 10/29/09 I feel badly for all involved, and no my first instinct is not to swerve it is to hit the brakes, swerving puts you into either oncoming traffic or the ditch, neither usually go well. I slam on the brakes and hope for the best. By: budlight on 10/30/09 hope all is going to be ok. no sence in people talking stupid.have a hart for the people that had an ACCIDENT! god bless you all. By: teri.srur on 10/30/09 Its too late, it happened, nothing can change the past, let it go, and just be thankful that no one has died. BTW it is instinct to swerve from anything that is in front of you even though it may not be the right thing. So yeah, maybe we could all be thankfull rather then act like children and fight over what should have happened, and whos better then the other ect we are all human. I am glad everyone is OK.
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