Law enforcement offers safety tips for winter driving in Otter Tail County

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent 

An indeterminate number of traffic injuries took place Jan. 30 southwest of Battle Lake, near the intersection of State Highway 210 and County Highway 47.

The accident took place at 4:21 p.m.

Winter roadway

driver safety tips

Sheriff deputies, in coordination with the State Highway Patrol, recommend that drivers follow these safety recommendations.

• Don’t drive distracted

• Stay alert for snowplows which turn or exit frequently. These units may, at times, travel over center lines in order to improve road conditions.

• Stay back at least 10 car lengths behind the plow.

• Slow down to a safe speed when winter conditions call for slower speeds.

Catalytic theft near

Pelican Rapids

Sheriff deputies, on Jan. 31, reported the theft of a catalytic converter and exhaust system in rural Pelican Rapids. The theft was close to Highway 59.

Deputies said a likely suspect is a person who was seen on a snowmobile with ripsaw track (snowmobile track features).

The estimated value loss was close to $1,000. Authorities said the investigation was con-tinuing as of Feb. 1.

Vehicle broken into,

items stolen

Sheriff deputies reported a vehicle break-in Feb. 3 near Perham, close to Highway 80. A list of missing items from the business vehicle was being compiled the following day.

“The front driver’s side window was broken out,” said a sheriff deputy. “We believe the break-in took place late in the evening on Feb. 2.”

Icy roads across

Minnesota on Feb. 4

The State Highway Patrol, on Feb. 4, reported snowfall in the morning hours across most of Minnesota, making for some icy roads.

Minnesota State Patrol officers reported 147 crashes statewide between the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Twenty-five of those crashes injured drivers, none of which were serious or fatal. Addi-tionally, 42 vehicles spun out or were off the road, and one semi jackknifed.