Weekend Crashes Across Southwest Minnesota Leave Nine Injured

Issue #302

08 Jul

In this Marshall Area Insider issue…

☀️ Marshall, MN Weather - Sunny with a high of 77

🗞️ Weekend Crashes Across Southwest Minnesota Leave Nine Injured

🗞️ Marshall Man Faces Jury Trial in Insurance Fraud Case

📣 Want to get your business in the Marshall Area Insider? Let’s talk!

📌 Know of other local events not listed? Send us the details!

Weekend Crashes Across Southwest Minnesota Leave Nine Injured

police

A series of vehicle collisions over the weekend in Lyon and Renville counties resulted in injuries to nine people, prompting responses from multiple emergency agencies across the region.

The first crash occurred late Saturday afternoon near Olivia. At approximately 2:22 p.m., a 2012 Chevy Malibu traveling eastbound on 830th Street entered the intersection at Highway 71 and collided with a southbound 2013 Ford F150.

The driver of the Malibu, 25-year-old Manuela Maria Lopez of Willmar, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. Authorities noted that Lopez had alcohol in her system at the time of the incident.

Three individuals in the Ford were also injured in the crash. The driver, 22-year-old Kmila Garzacastillo of Sullivan City, Texas, along with passengers 51-year-old Nilda Azucena Garza of Hidalgo, Texas, and 49-year-old Noe Alvaro Garzamarra of Bird Island, were all transported to Olivia Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Responding agencies included the Olivia Police Department, Renville County Sheriff’s Office, Hector and CentraCare Ambulance, and the Olivia Fire Department.

The following morning in Lyon County, two separate crashes added to the weekend’s toll.

At around 10:31 a.m. Sunday, a 2012 Kia Forte and a 2018 GMC Sierra collided on County State Aid Highway 9 near the intersection of 330th Street.

The Kia, driven by 18-year-old Landon Gabriel Teske of Cottonwood, and the GMC, driven by 23-year-old Jarret Michael Beebout of Marshall, were traveling in opposite directions at the time of impact. Both drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Avera Marshall Hospital.

Emergency crews from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Cottonwood Ambulance, and Cottonwood Fire Department responded to the scene.

Less than two hours later, another crash occurred just outside Russell. At approximately 12:09 p.m., a 2005 Chevy Impala traveling southbound on 170th Street collided with a northbound 2006 Honda Accord on Highway 23 in Coon Creek Township. The Impala’s driver, 73-year-old Margie F. Dwire of Mountain Lake, was taken to Avera Marshall Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two individuals in the Accord—driver Craig Allen Jacobson, 39, and passenger Dennis Chester Marshall, 59, both of Hanley Falls—were treated at the scene.

Russell Fire & Ambulance, North Memorial Ambulance, and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office provided emergency assistance.

All three crashes remain under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol.

Marshall Man Faces Jury Trial in Insurance Fraud Case

police

A Marshall man is scheduled to go on trial this week in connection with allegations of insurance fraud and forgery stemming from a 2020 gas explosion that destroyed a home east of Marshall.

Court records show that a jury trial for 55-year-old Kenneth James DeBaere is set for July 9–11 in Lyon County District Court.

DeBaere faces two felony counts of insurance fraud and one count of forgery in a case filed in 2023.

According to the criminal complaint, the charges are linked to a commercial insurance policy application allegedly altered following a work-related accident involving Spencer Laleman of Laleman Septic & Plumbing.

Laleman had reportedly performed contract work on a job site prior to the explosion on August 27, 2020.

The explosion occurred in the early morning hours and resulted in the total loss of a residence.

Investigators allege that DeBaere submitted a backdated insurance policy application on August 25, 2020—two days before the incident—with signatures attributed to both DeBaere and Laleman.

However, Laleman denied having signed the document, and discrepancies in the signature raised further suspicion.

The complaint also cited inaccuracies on the application, such as a false business description identifying Laleman’s company as a healthcare software provider and a start date in 1986, which would have placed Laleman at just four years old.

The case remains set for trial this week, with proceedings expected to conclude by July 11.

Upcoming Area Events

 🗓️ Have an event to add? Send us the details!

Thursday, July 10th

  • Ivanhoe Community Pork Chop Feed Fundraise at Gilson Field in Ivanhoe

    • Serving from 5 to 7:30 PM or until gone

    • Free Will Donation

    • All proceeds will go to Lincoln County Relay for Life & American Cancer Society

    • Menu: Pork Chops, Baked Beans, Macaroni & Cheese, Ice Cream, Pop & Water

Friday, July 11th - Sunday, July 13th
Sunday, July 13th

  • Cow Pie Bingo in Cottonwood

Thursday, July 17th
Friday, July 25th

  • Par 3 Golf Scramble Fundraiser in Cottonwood

Saturday, July 26th - Sunday, July 27th

  • The Society for the Preservation of Minneota's Heritage (SPMH) is sponsoring a special weekend to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Icelandic settlement in our area

Wednesday, August 6th

  • Intentional Leader Summit at Grace Life Church in Marshall

  • Poetry Bus in the evening in Granite Falls (time to be determined)

  • Dementia Caregiver Support Group at the Adult Community Center in Marshall from 10 - 11:30 AM

Saturday, August 16th

  • Squid Fest in Granite Falls

    • Todd wants to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Memorial Park so we’re moving the party there from 11-4.

    • The party continues downtown with live music at 6 PM. For more details check out the website!

Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1st

  • Tall Cop Says Stop Event - September 30, 2025 from 6:15–7:30 PM at Pipestone Performing Arts Center in Pipestone

  • Tall Cop Says Stop Event - October 1, 2025 from 6:15–7:30 PM at Marshall High School Theater in Marshall

  • RSVP by contacting Jennifer Nelson at [email protected] or 507-532-1243

Special Community Events

  • SAIL: Stay Active & Independent For Life brought to you by A.C.E. of SW MN

    • a total of 24 classes every Tuesday and Thursday

    • from April 29 - July 17 from 9:30 - 10:30 AM at the YMCA in Marshall

  • Dementia Caregiver Support Group, first Wednesday of every month, 10 - 11:30 AM at the Adult Community Center in Marshall

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