Teenager hurt in Itasca County car crash

A teenager was hurt Friday evening when the car in which she was a passenger ran off state Highway 6 in Itasca County and struck two trees.
The Minnesota State Patrol said Kayleen R. Johnson, 18, of Deer River, was a passenger in a southbound 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Michael J. Hill, 45, also of Deer River, at 9:02 p.m. when Hill lost control of his car. It crossed the northbound lanes and went into the east ditch before striking the trees.
Hill appeared to be uninjured, police said. Johnson suffered what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries and was taken by ambulance to Essentia Health-Deer River. From there, she was taken by helicopter to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.
Neither Johnson nor Hill was wearing a seat belt, police said. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident.