Driver Fighting for His Life After Being Hit Outside of His Vehicle by Pick-up on Minnesota Highway

Eagle Lake, MN (KROC-AM News)- A motorist is fighting for his life after being struck by a pick-up while he was outside of his vehicle along the side of a highway southern Minnesota early Tuesday morning. 

It’s believed the driver was outside of the vehicle when he was hit. The State Patrol responded to the crash shortly after 6:15 a.m. 

The state crash report indicates the driver was possibly pushing a compact car to the side of westbound Hwy. 14 at 598th Ave. in Eagle Lake, which is about 10 miles east of Mankato. 

The man and vehicle were then struck by a westbound pick-up. 26-year-old Raul Rene Gonzalez of Waseca has been identified as the driver of the apparently stalled vehicle. 

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He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with what are being described as life-threatening injuries. 

The driver of the westbound pick-up, identified as 43-year-old Jonathan Lee Hermanson of Janesville, MN, was not hurt. 

Alcohol was not involved in the crash, the report says. Westbound Hwy. 14 traffic was diverted away from the crash area for more than four hours Tuesday morning. 

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