A 16-year-old passenger who was injured in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon near Virginia has died at St. Mary's Medical Center, Minnesota State Patrol officers said.
Kirsty J. Kilpela of Eveleth died after the 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck she was riding in was hit head-on by a 1994 Ford pickup truck driven by Mitchell Tuominen on U.S. Highway 53 shortly before 5 p.m. At the time of the crash, Tuominen, 45, of Mountain Iron, reportedly was driving southbound in the northbound lane of the divided roadway. The Chevrolet was driven by Kilpela's sister, 20-year-old Candice K. Berg of Virginia.
After it was hit, the Chevrolet spun out and subsequently was broadsided by a 1995 Chevrolet pickup driven by Christopher Revord, 34, of Virginia. A 1999 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Susan Adams, 39, of Eveleth was then clipped by Tuominen's vehicle.
Kilpela was airlifted to St. Mary's, while Berg and Tuominen were taken there by ambulance. Both Berg and Tuominen were in serious condition as of Friday afternoon, according to Kim Kaiser, a hospital spokeswoman.
Revord was taken to Virginia Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He was no longer at the hospital on Friday afternoon.
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Adams reported no apparent injury.
It has not been determined why Tuominen was driving in the wrong direction, according to Murray Herrboldt, Minnesota State Patrol district commander in Virginia.
"Obviously, it was a very tragic crash and we're investigating it," he said.
After the investigation is complete, county attorneys will determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
