On Saturday just after 11 a.m., a peaceful morning in rural western Minnesota turned tragic when 55-year-old Sandra Marie Olson of Fergus Falls lost her life in a head-on crash along Minnesota State Highway 210 in Otter Tail County. Authorities say Olson was driving eastbound in her 2012 Toyota 4Runner when she drifted across the centerline while negotiating a curve in Tordenskjold Township—about 13 miles east of Fergus Falls—and collided with a westbound semi-truck.
The impact was immediate and devastating. Olson was pronounced dead at the scene; the semi driver, identified as 62-year-old John Floyd Mayfield of Perham, escaped the crash without injury. Importantly, investigators noted Olson was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash—a factor they say may have contributed to the severity of her injuries.
According to the crash data, Olson’s vehicle crossed into the opposing lane of traffic around mile marker 39 on MN-210 while rounding a curve, and the 4Runner struck the semi head-on. Alcohol was not involved in the incident, and no signs of impairment were found. The roadway, which courses through a winding, rural stretch of Otter Tail County, presents known challenges—sharp bends, changing visibility, and limited shoulder space—all factors motorists must navigate carefully.
Local emergency responders, including the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Ringdahl Ambulance and the Underwood Fire Department, arrived at the scene to find Olson’s SUV badly damaged and airborne airbags indicating the severity of impact. Meanwhile, Highway 210 was shut down for hours while troopers worked the scene, cleared the wreckage and documented the crash site.
Friends and neighbors in Fergus Falls are now reeling from the sudden loss. Olson is described as warm-hearted, attentive, and deeply involved in her community—someone who always looked out for others and whose absence leaves a noticeable void. While official statements are minimal, the reality of a life cut short on a familiar rural road is hitting home for many. Her family is left to grieve, and the broader community is left to reflect on how quickly an ordinary drive can turn tragic.
Officials with the Minnesota State Patrol continue to investigate all contributing factors from the crash—speed, road condition, curve geometry, vehicle dynamics, and the driver’s actions leading up to the event. Meanwhile, they are reminding drivers about the importance of staying alert, wearing a seatbelt, and reducing speed on rural highways with curves and limited visibility. It’s a reminder that even familiar routes carry risk—and that every drive deserves full attention and care.
Sandra’s story, while heartbreaking, is also a call for awareness. It underscores how easily a moment’s drift, a missed curve, or a lapse in safety measures can change lives forever—and the toll it takes not just on the individual but on neighbors, friends, and the fabric of a small community.
