1 dead in head-on crash on Hwy. 23 in Foley

For the second time in a week, the State Patrol responded to a fatal head-on crash on Hwy. 23 in Foley.

Rocky Thomas Rowland, 70, of Milaca, was headed east at 8th Avenue at 1:55 p.m. Monday when he crossed the centerline and collided with a westbound vehicle driven by Terry Allen Vedder, 62, also of Milaca. Rowland was killed in the crash. Vedder was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the State Patrol.

The crash occurred only three blocks from a head-on crash last Tuesday in which an alleged drunken driver came across the centerline and hit another motorist head-on at 11th Avenue.

Lindsay Cardinal, 35, was killed in that crash. Two of her children who were riding in her vehicle were injured. A third was not hurt.

The driver who hit Cardinal, Kevin Couch, 29, of Milaca, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with serious injuries. A passenger in his vehicle, Nicole Schmidt, 24, of Milaca, was also hurt.

A preliminary report from the State Patrol said Couch was under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both at the time of the crash, which occurred about 6 p.m.

The crash is still under investigation, said Benton County Attorney Philip Miller.

Services for Cardinal will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 645 3rd Av. SE., Milaca. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour before services on Saturday at the church.