Teen injured in two-vehicle crash near Perham

A 16-year-old girl was injured Wednesday night in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of West Coney Street and County Highway 34, just outside the Perham city limits. Otter Tail County authorities were notified at 8:58 p.m.

The crash put one of Perham’s better-known roadway junctions back in the spotlight for local drivers, even as the details remained limited to the time, place and the fact that a juvenile was hurt. The location sits just beyond the city boundary, where traffic between Perham and the surrounding county roads can move quickly and where even a routine turn or crossing movement can turn into an emergency response.

Because the injured person was identified as a 16-year-old girl, the collision carried added concern for families in and around Perham. Crashes involving juveniles often draw close attention from parents, schools and other motorists, especially when they happen in the evening and near a busy intersection that many residents know well.

The May 20 crash also follows another recent Otter Tail County wreck near Perham. On May 8, a separate collision northeast of Perham left a Perham resident and three juvenile passengers with minor injuries, and Perham Fire and Ambulance responded to that scene. Taken together, the two crashes show that young passengers have been part of more than one recent incident on Perham-area roads, adding urgency to basic caution at county intersections and along routes that carry steady local traffic.