One Hospitalized After Stearns County Crash

PAYNESVILLE -- One man was taken to the hospital after a driver fell asleep at the wheel while on Highway 4 in Lake Henry Township.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Thursday around 3:00 p.m. Fifty-one-year-old Thomas Hopfer of Paynesville was heading south on Highway 4 near 260th Street when he fell asleep and crossed into the northbound lane.

An SUV driven by 66-year-old Robert Rooney of Oak Grove was heading north on Highway 4, couldn't avoid Hopfer's pickup, hit a driveway approach and rolled.

Rooney was taken to Paynesville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Hopfer was not hurt.