The holidays typically generate more traffic, more cars on the road, more havoc and thus more accidents. Last weekend was especially brutal as two people died while a couple others are fighting for their lives.
Big Lake
At 2:45 a.m. last Saturday, a Big Lake police officer was traveling southbound on Hwy. 25 in the City of Big Lake and observed a BMW traveling northbound near Tarrytown Road that was in excess of the posted speed limit. The police officer turned around in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle for a speeding violation. The police officer eventually came upon a crash where the BMW left the roadway to the right and rolled.
Three people occupied the BMW and two of the occupants perished in the crash.
The driver, 17-year-old Donovan Paul Gobel and one of the passengers, 17-year-old Anthony Scott Krider, both of Elk River, died at the scene. A second passenger, 17-year-old Charles Walter Gabrelcik of Elk River was rushed to HCMC with life-threatening injuries. All three youngsters were wearing seatbelts and it is unknown if drugs or alcohol attributed to the accident. The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were Big Lake PD, Big Lake FD, CentraCare Ambulance, Sherburne County Sheriffs Office and Becker PD.
Becker
At 6:04 p.m. last Saturday, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to stop a Ram truck that was recently reported stolen from the City of St. Cloud. The Ram truck failed to stop for the Sheriff’s Deputies and in the City of Becker in the area of Hwy. 10 and Liberty Lane, the Ram truck entered Hwy. 10 from Liberty Lane and collided with a Toyota Camry — which was eastbound on Hwy. 10. The Toyota collided with a Kia Niro that was westbound on Hwy. 10. The Ram truck ran off the road to the right, and struck a Subaru Outback in the parking lot of a business.
The driver of the 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 truck was 21-year-old Bradley A. Alfred of Montrose. He was arrested on site and was delivered to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the 2017 Kia Niro was 46-year-old Chastity Marie Jacobson of Big Lake and she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the 2024 Subaru Outback was 39-year-old Daniel Joseph Meyer of Des Moines, IA who suffered no injuries.
The driver of the 2007 Toyota Camry was 36-year-old Christopher James Vyskocil of Becker who was transported to North Robbinsdale Hospital with life threatening injuries.
Alcohol and/or drugs were not deemed involved in the accident that caused a major shutdown and re-route of traffic.
The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were Sherburne County Sheriffs Office., Becker PD, Becker FD, CentraCare Ambulance, North Air Care and MnDOT.
Later in the Day
At 8:56 p.m. that same day in Becker Twp., two vehicles collided at the intersection of Hwy. 25 at 97th Street SE.
According to authorities, a 2009 GMC Sierra, driven by 41-year-old Matthew John Rohlik of Renville was westbound on 97th Street pulling a trailer with a four-wheeler on it. The 2012 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 43-year-old Bradley Robert Roepke, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 25 pulling a boat. The result was a t-bone crash in the intersection where one vehicle landed on it’s roof in the ditch.
Roepke had a passenger, 38-year-old Ashley Nicole Roepke and neither occupants suffered injuries.
Rohlik was transferred to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Alcohol and/or drugs were not involved in the accident.
Assisting at the scene were Becker PD, Sherburne County Sheriff’s Dept., Becker FD, CentraCare Ambulance, Collins Bros. and Peterson Towing.
