Trooper injured after hitting horses

A State Trooper was injured early Monday morning after his squad car struck two horses, the Minnesota State Patrol reported.

Stephen C. Willert, 37, Rochester, was responding to Northfield for a report of an armed robbery with shots fired just after 3 a.m. He was traveling northbound on Highway 57 in Cherry Grove Township when he struck two horses that were on the road near 490th Street.

Willert sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. He was in fair condition as of Monday afternoon.

Zumbrota Police Department and Dodge, Olmsted and Goodhue county sheriff departments responded to the scene. Both horses were killed in the crash.

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