One killed in crash near Le Center

By Wade Young

Montgomery Messenger

A two-vehicle crash killed a Faribault woman Sunday, Jan. 16, at the intersection of Le Sueur County Road 5 and Highway 99, east of Le Center.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Bonnie Protextor, 48, of Faribault, was killed when the SUV she was riding in collided with a vehicle travelling eastbound on Highway 99 at approximately 12:20 p.m.

The driver of the GMC SUV that was travelling eastbound was Eric Larson, 29, of Cleveland. He was taken by ambulance to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. He was listed in fair condition Monday. His wife, Toni Lee Larson, 29, also of Cleveland, was a passenger in the vehicle. She was taken to the St. Peter Hospital where she was treated and released. Their daughter, Erin Joy Larson, was not injured in the crash.

The second vehicle was driven by Paula Schnoor, 31, of Faribault. She was taken to Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague where she was treated and released. Protextor was one of the passengers in Schnoor’s 2005 Chevrolet SUV.

There were two other passengers from Faribault in Schnoor’s vehicle. Dawn Hill 24 was taken to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, and Michele Heise, 37, was taken to Queen of Peace Hospital. Hill was listed in good condition Monday. Heise was released Monday.

Assisting on the scene were the Montgomery, New Prague, St. Peter, and Le Center Ambulance Services, along with officers from the Le Sueur County Sheriff’s Department, the Le Center Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol.

According to the State Patrol, the crash is under investigation and a formal report will be available in approximately one month.