3 People Seriously Hurt When Car Hits Semi, Catches On Fire

ATWATER - Three people are in the hospital with serious injuries after the car they were in rear ended a semi and then caught on fire. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 5:00 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday) on Highway 12 in Kandiyohi County.

The semi was stopped waiting to make a turn into the Bushmills Ethanol Plant near Atwater.

A car driven by 20-year-old Gerald Walther of Grove City hit the semi from behind. It then caught on fire. The semi driver put the fire out with his extinguisher.

Walther and his two passengers, 19-year-old Jose Sauceda of Atwater and 18-year-old Faith Palmer of Grove City, were all taken to Twin Cities area hospitals with serious injuries.

The semi driver, 45-year-old Bradley Fostervold of Kandiyohi, was not hurt.