MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Minnesota State Patrol has identified the four college students who died in a head-on crash on Interstate 94 near Alexandria.
The crash happened in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 97 just after 3 p.m. Monday.
Authorities say the four women were in a car heading west when they crossed the median and collided head-on with an SUV traveling in the eastbound lane. That SUV was then hit from behind by a third vehicle.
The State Patrol says the victims were 19-year-old Jordan Playle, of Otsego; 18-year-old Danielle Renniger, of Excelsior; 18-year-old Lauren Peterson, of Prior Lake; and 18-year-old Megan Sample, of Rogers.
Family members say all four victims were students at North Dakota State University, and were headed back to the school when the crash happened.
The mother of Renniger said she had a conversation with her just before she dropped her off to go back to school on Monday.
She said her daughter talked about how happy she was — getting straight As, she loved school and had a lot of friends.
She was proud of herself and what she was accomplishing.
Her father described her as wise beyond her years.
Reninger graduated from Minnetonka High School. Playle and Sample went to Rogers High School. And Peterson graduated from Prior Lake. She was the driver at the time of the crash.
Her former marketing and DECA teacher said she had quite an impact on other students.
“She had a unique energy that surrounded her. It definitely … our students fed off that energy every single day,” said Erik Sill. “A lot of us are just trying to figure out why stuff like this happens. We’re going through memories of Danielle and celebrating her life together.”
State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow said three other people were injured in the crash, which involved three vehicles, but they have since been released from local hospitals.
Radio station KFGO in Fargo says snow was reducing visibility on the interstate, and that the roadway was slippery at the time of the crash.
The State Patrol said weather will be a factor in the investigation, but they have yet to determine the exact cause of the crash.
