A 9-year-old girl was injured when the four-wheeler she was riding on rolled over Sunday.

Ashton Cates was taken to Hutchinson Hospital for surgery on her right leg following a four-wheeler accident Sunday afternoon, according to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office.

An Annandale man was taken to St. Cloud Hospital following a morning crash on Minnesota Highway 15 near Dassel Wednesday.

The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. one mile north of the County State Aid Highway 21 intersection when a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix crossed the centerline and struck a semi-trailer, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Brett J. Thompson, 21, the driver of the Grand Prix, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center where he is in critical condition, the State Patrol reports.

Meeker County tobacco retailers recently received a thumbs up for giving the red light to underage smokers.

All 22 Meeker County establishments licensed to sell tobacco passed a compliance check in the past year. The check, conducted by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and Meeker County Public Health, is an unannounced investigation to determine whether retailers are selling tobacco to underage youth.

A rural Hutchinson man was seriously injured while driving an all-terrain vehicle in a gravel pit Saturday.

Brian Keith Berwald, 28, was attempting to climb a gravel mound on a 2000 Yamaha four-wheeler in a gravel pit near the 640th Avenue and 205th Street, Litchfield, when he overturned the vehicle, according to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office.

ST. PAUL — Increased impaired driving patrols will hit Minnesota roads throughout July, one of the deadliest months for alcohol-related crashes. The statewide enhanced impaired driving enforcement sweep is administered by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and will include around 400 law enforcement agencies patrolling extra hours. The campaign covers the 4th of July holiday weekend.

A Maple Grove woman was killed in a fatal accident Sunday in Cedar Mills.

The three-vehicle accident occurred shortly before 3:50 p.m. Sunday when a 1989 Lincoln Town Car broad-sided a 1999 Dodge Caravan while crossing Minnesota Highway 7 at County State Aid Highway 26.

A failure to stop at stop sign led to a two-vehicle accident Thursday.

The accident occurred at the intersection of CSAH 28 and 615th Avenue shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, according to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office. Two individuals were transported to Meeker County Memorial Hospital; one by a private party. No serious injuries were reported.

One driver was cited for a stop sign violation, the Sheriff's Office reported.

Gold Cross Ambulance, Litchfield Rescue, and Litchfield Fire Department responded.

A chain reaction accident Thursday on U.S. Highway 12 left a Balaton man in critical condition.

Lonny L. Johnson, 47, was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with facial injuries after the 2000 International semitrailer he was driving rear-ended a stopped 1998 International semitrailer around noon Thursday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The accident, which caused a chain-reaction with a 1995 Ford Windstar and 2005 Mazda Station Wagon, closed the highway for a few hours.

A Saturday evening thunderstorm blew down trees and powers lines across the county Saturday.

Meeker County experienced strong winds, heavy rains, and dime- to nickel-sized hail, according to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office. The office received reports of power lines down, trees up rooted, and buildings damaged in the Grove City and Dassel areas. There were no reports of injuries or homes damaged.

According to the Sheriff's Office, there were reports of funnel clouds in the Grove City area. There were no confirmed reports of tornado touchdowns.

An older model Dodge Omni was pulled from Big Swan Lake Sunday and authorities want to know how it got there.

The Carver County Recovery Dive Team assisted the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office in raising the submerged vehicle Sunday morning. It was unoccupied.