Motorist uninjured after striking a downed pine tree across Highway 16 near Grand Meadow Tuesday afternoon

A motorist escaped injury on Highway 16 near Grand Meadow late Tuesday afternoon when the vehicle they were driving struck a pine tree that had fallen across the road.

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik stated that deputies responded to the scene of the accident in the 76000 block of Highway 16 east of Grand Meadow at approximately 5:09 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.  A 2015 Ford pickup truck occupied by one person was eastbound on Highway 16 when Sheriff Sandvik stated that a mature pine tree suddenly snapped due to high winds in a thunderstorm that was moving through the area and fell across the highway right in front of the pickup truck.  Sandvik stated that the driver of the truck had no time to react and struck the downed tree.  

The driver of the pickup truck was uninjured.  The Minnesota State Patrol and MnDOT assisted the Mower County Sheriff’s Office at the accident scene, and with the removal of the tree.