Driver airlifted from crash involving school bus, dump truck

MONTICELLO — A minivan driver from Becker was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday morning with serious injuries following a three-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a dump truck just outside of Monticello.

The crash, which happened just before 8 a.m. on State Highway 25 North, near County Road 37 Northeast, involved a Hoglund Transportation school bus, a dump truck and a minivan, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

All three vehicles were headed northbound on Highway 25 when they collided at the intersection with Wright County Road 37, according to the accident report.

The only one injured was the driver of the 2004 Dodge Caravan, Randolph Lee Torkkola, 44, of Becker, who authorities said was wearing his seat belt. Torkkola was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

No other injuries were reported and no students were on board the school bus, according to Sgt. Jesse Grabow.

Barry Edward Jenneke, 69, of Big Lake, was behind the wheel of a 2024 IC Bus 3000 school bus, and was also wearing his seat belt, according to the accident report.

The driver of the 2023 Volvo truck was identified as Kevin Eugene Batten, 35, of Becker, who also had his seat belt on, according to the report.

Road conditions were dry at the time, the patrol said, and alcohol was not involved.

Members of the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Monticello Fire Department and North Memorial emergency crew all responded to the scene.

The Monticello Public Schools district released a statement to families shortly after the crash:

"Please know that buses remain the safest mode of transportation for students," it reads in part. "Hoglund Transportation, the Monticello School District, and Wright County officials work together closely to ensure the safety of our students each day."

The district also released this statement from Hoglund Transportation:

"We are working collaboratively with law enforcement to determine the cause of this incident. No students were on the bus at the time of the incident and the school bus driver was uninjured. The school bus driver is a longtime, beloved driver in our school district, and he is deeply saddened by this. We invite our school district community to join us in prayer that the injured vehicle driver will make a full recovery."