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St. James man killed in crash on 169

By Staff | Jan 10, 2016

There were emergency vehicles from several agencies at the accident scene north of Blue Earth on Highway 169 on Wednesday night. The highway remained blocked off from traffic for some time.

A St. James man was killed and two other people were injured in a two-vehicle accident that happened on Wednesday evening on Highway 169.

The accident happened at 7 p.m. three miles north of Blue Earth, just north of the Riverside Town & Country Golf Club entrance.

A 2002 Chevy Cavalier was southbound on Highway 169 when it crossed the centerline and struck a northbound 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix.

The driver of the Chevy Cavalier, Alberto Gracia-Palacios, 19, of St. James, was dead at the scene, according to a report from the Minnesota State Highway Patrol.

A passenger in the Chevy Cavalier, Devon A. Schmitz, 19, of LaSalle, Minnesota, received serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to UHD hospital in Blue Earth with what was listed as non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Pontiac Grand Prix, Dena M. Tangen-Herbst, 29, of Bricelyn, was also transported from the scene of the accident with what was believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, according to the State Patrol report.

The Faribault County Sheriff’s Office, Winnebago Fire and Rescue, Blue Earth Fire and Rescue, Winnebago Ambulance, Blue Earth Ambulance, Blue Earth Police Department and the St. James Police Department assisted the Minnesota State Patrol at the scene and with post-crash followup and notification of family.

The State Patrol report lists the road conditions as “icy” at the time of the accident.