State Patrol investigating fatal crashes in Dakota, Goodhue counties

The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating two deadly crashes that occurred south of the Twin Cities metro Thursday. 

At 11:18 p.m., troopers responded to a crash on Highway 50 in Douglas Township in rural Dakota County. According to the State Patrol, a 53-year-old Hampton man was driving a Ford F150 when it went into the ditch near Inga Avenue and rolled. 

The passenger, identified as 49-year-old Terri Lynn Stephenson of Hampton, was not wearing her seatbelt. She died in the crash. 

The driver was taken North Memorial Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. 

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash. 

Another fatal crash occurred a short time earlier approximately 20 miles away in Warsaw Township in Goodhue County. 

According to the State Patrol, at 11:02 p.m., a Chrysler Town and Country was northbound on State Highway 56 when the driver, identified as 58-year-old Scott Friedrich of Cannon Falls, lost control of the vehicle. 

The minivan went into the dtich and rolled. 

Friedrich, who was the only occupant of the minivan, was not wearing his seatbelt and died in the crash. 

State Patrol said the road was snowy and icy at the time of the crash. 

Both crashes remain under investigation.