Wisconsin Motorcycle Passenger Critically Injured in Alcohol-Involved Crash With Car in Lanesboro

Lanesboro, MN (KROC-AM News)- A motorcycle passenger is fighting for her life following an alcohol-involved crash in southeast Minnesota. 

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The State Patrol responded to the car-motorcycle collision shortly before 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. The car driver was the only occupant of that vehicle. 

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53-Year-Old Wisconsin Woman Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in Collision at Lanesboro Intersection

The crash occurred at the intersection of Hwy. 16 and Fillmore County Rd. 21 in Lanesboro.

The motorcycle was heading west on Hwy. 16 and the car was eastbound when the two collided, according to the state crash report. 

53-year-old Linnea Birgitta Rice of Galesville, WI was identified as the motorcycle passenger.

She was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester with life-threatening injuries, according to the State Patrol. 

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Authorities identified the motorcycle driver as 57-year-old Mathew Christian Barnholtz.

The Winona man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, the State Patrol says. 

Rochester Man Driving Car

74-year-old Robert Lee of Rochester was driving the car. The State Patrol says he was not hurt. 

Rice and Barnholtz were not wearing helmets and Barnholtz was suspected to have alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, the state crash report says. 

Lee was buckled up. The crash report does not say which vehicle entered the oncoming traffic lane. 

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Preston Ambulance, the Lanesboro Fire Department, the Preston Police Department and the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the collision.