Fairfax man suffers life-threatening injuries in motorcycle accident in Mower County Saturday evening

A Fairfax man suffered life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle accident on Highway 16 in Mower County early Saturday evening.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported that a 2021 Indian motorcycle being driven by 47-year old Tanar Wayne Haala of Fairfax was traveling west on Highway 16 in Frankford Township in Mower County at approximately 6:34 p.m. Saturday evening when the bike’s rear tire blew and threw Haala and a passenger off the motorcycle near milepost 207.

Haala suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Mayo Clinic/St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester for treatment,  while the passenger on the motorcycle, 32-year old Rachel Leeann Kuphal of Pipestone suffered non-life threatening injuries, and she was also transported to Mayo Clinic/St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of her injuries.  

The State Patrol indicated that neither Haala or Kuphal were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and the Mower County Sheriff’s Office, the Grand Meadow Police Department, Grand Meadow Ambulance and Mayo 1 all assisted the State Patrol at the accident scene Saturday evening.