BREAKING NEWS: Woman killed in foggy crash involving Owatonna woman

A West Concord woman has died in a crash that also involved an Owatonna woman on Monday, Dec. 30 in Dodge County.

Sheriff Scott Rose identified the victim as Scarlett Tanner, 32, of West Concord. She was driving a 2019 Toyota Highlander and died at the scene of the crash on Dodge County Road 24 east of 120th Avenue around 7:46 a.m. Monday.

Also involved in the crash was Elizabeth Albers, 40, of Owatonna. She was driving a 2017 Ford Expedition that collided head-on with the Tanner vehicle just east of the curve on CR 24 before it intersects with 120th Avenue.

Rose said while Tanner and a passerby who stopped to assist were standing outside their vehicles, a truck and trailer drove into the crash scene. The driver of the truck, Ryan Thoe, 47, of Kasson, entered the south ditch to avoid the crash. While entering the ditch, he struck Tanner and another woman, Erin Brose, 46, of Dodge Center, who were standing outside their vehicles, according to Rose.

Brose was transported to a hospital in Rochester with life-threatening injuries. Albers was transported to a hospital in Owatonna with non-life-threatening injuries.

The sheriff said extremely dense fog and icy road conditions were a primary factor in the crash. He said preliminary investigations show this crash involved an unbelted motorist, which significantly increased the severity of injuries.

“The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office reminds all motorists to buckle up while in a motor vehicle and slow down during foggy and/or icy conditions,” Rose said.

Assisting at the scene were West Concord Fire and Ambulance, Claremont Fire and First Responders, Dodge Center Fire, Dodge Center Ambulance, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota State Patrol Commercial Vehicle Inspectors, Dodge County Highway Department, Dodge County Sheriff Chaplains, and Mayo Ambulance.