Serious injuries in crash at Lafayette Bluff

A collision involving three vehicles occurred near the Highway 61 Lafayette Bluff Tunnel in Lake County this morning, December 5,  sending two people to area hospitals.

Joanne Louise Josephson, 51, of Finland, Minn., was traveling north on the highway at 9:30 a.m. in a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. Her vehicle crossed over the centerline, hitting a southbound 2006 Volkswagen Passat head-on.

A 2008 Dodge Avenger, also southbound, was unable to avoid the crash and it was also struck by the Silverado.

The driver of the Volkswagen, Jeffery Jude Lutz, 53, of Rosemount, Minn., suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital.

His passenger, Julie Christine Lutz, 50, also of Rosemount, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center.

The driver of the Dodge Avenger, Billy Albert Enger, Jr., 44, of Cloquet and his passengers Drew Isaac Johnson, 32, of Duluth, and Grant Nicolas Prentice, 33, of Cloquet, did not require medical attention.

All of the parties in the crash were wearing seatbelts.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the road was covered with snow and ice.