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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020
CONTACT: Tony Mangan, Public Information Officer, 605-280-5648
Names Released In Brown County Fatal Crash
WHAT: Two-vehicle crash
Where: 391st Avenue and 123rd Street
Five miles west of Columbia, S.D.
When: 10:13 a.m., Friday, Sept. 11, 2020
Driver No 1: Paula Kleinsasser, 57, Mina, S.D., Fatal Injuries
Vehicle: 2013 Dodge Journey
Driver No. 2: Isaac Abeln, 41, Columbia, S.D., Serious Non-Life Threatening Injuries
Vehicle: 2005 Peterbilt Conventional 379 Semi-Truck and Trailer
COLUMBIA, S.D. – A Mina, S.D. woman has been identified as the person who died in a two-vehicle crash last Friday morning west of Columbia.
A 2013 Dodge Journey was northbound on 391st Avenue when it failed to stop for a posted stop sign at the intersection with 123rd Street. The vehicle was struck in the intersection by a 2005 Peterbilt Conventional 379 semi-truck and trailer, which was westbound on 123rd Steet.
Paula Kleinsasser, the 57-year-old driver of the Dodge, was pronounced dead at the scene. Isaac Abeln of Columbia, S.D., the 41-year-old driver of the semi-truck, received serious non-life threatening injuries. He was airlifted to an Aberdeen hospital.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts.
South Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. All information is only preliminary at this time.
The Highway Patrol is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
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Note: Records of state-reportable crashes are now available at http://www.safesd.gov/. Records should be available about 10 days after the investigation is complete.