TAYLOR FALLS, MN. (THECOUNT) — In a tragic incident along a rural Minnesota highway, Thomas “Tom” Collins and Kimberly Kay Brown lost their lives, while Kim McCoy was left severely injured. The fatal crash involved two vehicles and occurred near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border shortly after 12:30 PM on Monday.
The incident unfolded at the intersection of Hwy. 8 and Milltown Rd., just south of Taylors Falls, where the Minnesota State Patrol responded to the scene. According to the state crash report, the accident was initiated when a car driven by McCoy, a 55-year-old resident of Minneapolis, was traveling east on Hwy. 8. For reasons yet to be determined, McCoy’s vehicle crossed the centerline, resulting in a head-on collision with an SUV driven by 59-year-old Collins of Amery, Wisconsin.
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Collins was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries there. The state crash report confirmed his death, underscoring the severity of the impact. In McCoy’s vehicle, 61-year-old Brown from Minneapolis was also involved in the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene, highlighting the devastating outcome of the collision.
McCoy, the driver of the car that crossed into oncoming traffic, was rushed to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with life-threatening injuries. Her condition following the crash remains a point of concern, as she fights for recovery from what has been described as severe injuries.
Notably, all occupants of both vehicles were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and alcohol was not a factor, according to the preliminary investigation by the State Patrol. The road conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be wet, which might have played a role in the vehicle’s loss of control leading to the crash.
This tragic event has brought to light the unpredictable nature of road travel, especially in rural areas where traffic might be less dense but where accidents can have dire consequences due to higher speeds and less immediate emergency response. The intersection of Hwy. 8 and Milltown Rd. has now become a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety.
The Minnesota State Patrol continues its investigation into the circumstances that led to this fatal collision, seeking to understand why McCoy’s vehicle crossed into the opposite lane. This information is crucial not only for legal proceedings but also for preventing future tragedies at this and similar intersections.
As the community of Taylors Falls and the surrounding areas mourn the loss of Thomas Paul Collins and Kimberly Kay Brown, and as they wish for the recovery of Kim McCoy, there’s a collective reflection on the need for vigilance, adherence to traffic laws, and the unpredictable nature of life on the road. The loss of life in such a manner underscores the urgency of road safety campaigns and the importance of continued education on driving safety, especially under potentially hazardous conditions like wet roads.
According to Linkedin, Collins was the owner of RFC Engineering.
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