A 41-year-old woman from Belgrade died in a head-on collision early Monday morning, Jan. 22  on Highway 55 between east of Brooten.

According to a crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol, Cassie Evlyn Mithaugen died behind the wheel of a 2012 Honda Fit. An unnamed 3-year-old female passenger in Mithaugen’s vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries. She was transported to Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood before being taken to Children’s Hospital for treatment. 

The crash was reported at 6:46 a.m. Monday on Minnesota Highway 55, near mile marker 90 in Crow Lake Township between Brooten and Belgrade, it was stated in the report.

According to the report, Mithaugen’s vehicle was westbound on Minnesota Highway 55 while a red GMC Envoy, driven by Chad Jess Seitz, 52, of Anoka, was driving eastbound when the vehicles collided.

According to a Jan. 24 report from KNSI Radio in St. Cloud, Seitz was charged last week in Stearns County Court in connection with the Jan. 22 crash.  Charges included criminal vehicular homicide operating a vehicle with negligence under the influence of a controlled substance, criminal vehicular homicide operating a vehicle with negligence under the influence of cannabis/hemp edible/products, criminal vehicular operation – bodily harm – under the influence of a controlled substance, criminal vehicular operation – bodily harm – under the influence of cannabis/hemp/CBD/THC, and giving false information to police.