Preston Man, Devon Williams, 40, and Chicago Driver, 62, Die in Head-On Highway 52 Crash Near Chatfield

A late-night collision on a wet stretch of Highway 52 in Olmsted County turned deadly on Wednesday, June 10, killing both drivers involved. The crash happened just before midnight near the intersection of County Road 7 Southeast in Orion Township, southeast of Rochester.

Devon Peri Williams, 40, of Preston, Minnesota, was driving a 2013 Ford Explorer northbound on Highway 52 when his vehicle collided head-on with a 2015 Jeep Cherokee traveling southbound. Behind the wheel of the Cherokee was Samuel A. Hernandez, 62, of Chicago, Illinois.

The Minnesota State Patrol, which responded to the scene, has not disclosed what caused the two vehicles to meet in a fatal collision.

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Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams was transported by helicopter to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, where he later died from his injuries.

Both men were wearing seat belts, and airbags deployed in both vehicles. Despite those safety measures, neither driver survived the impact.

Road Conditions and Investigation

Road conditions were wet at the time of the crash, according to the State Patrol. Alcohol was not suspected in Williams’ case.

Test results for Hernandez remain pending. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Chatfield Fire Department, Chatfield Ambulance, Mayo Clinic Ambulance, Rochester Fire Department, the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, and Rochester Towing.

A Community Mourns

Beyond the official reports and accident details, the crash has left a deep wound in the lives of those who knew Devon Williams.

Friends and family took to social media to express their grief, with heartfelt posts reflecting on the loss of a man clearly loved by many. One message read that losing him was a pain that cut deep, calling him a brother and friend who would not be forgotten.

The Minnesota State Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. No further details about what led to the crash have been released at this time.