Rochester man killed in Kasson crash

A Rochester man was killed last Wednesday in Kasson after officials said he intentionally hit a pick-up truck head-on on Highway 57.
Minnesota State Patrol said that Anthony Vincent Mitchell, 39, Rochester, was traveling north on Highway 57 in a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier, just south of the intersection with 16th Street NE at 10:41 a.m. when he crossed the center line and struck a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Kay William Zelinske, 83, Mantorville.
The incident started earlier in the morning when Rochester police had information to arrest Mitchell for criminal sexual conduct, said Capt. Scott Behrns of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. When Mitchell sent what Behrns described as “a disturbing photo” to Rochester investigators it became a “person in crisis call” as Mitchell was believed to be suicidal. Mitchell’s cell phone was pinged to the west side of Oxbow Park and deputies began a search in that area.
Behrns said the vehicle was later spotted speeding in Byron but Olmsted County deputies decided not to pursue it.
An officer with the Kasson Police Department saw the car running a stop sign, said Kasson Chief Josh Hanson. When the Kasson officer turned his vehicle around, Mitchell speeded up and just south of the 16th Street intersection near Kasson-Mantorville High School he intentionally drove head-on into the pickup which was veering to the side of the highway to avoid a collision, officials said.
Mitchell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zelinske was transported to Mayo Clinic St. Marys Hospital in Rochester with non-life threatening injuries.
Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies, Kasson Police, Minnesota State Patrol, Kasson Fire Department, Dodge Center Ambulance and MnDOT also responded to the scene as did Behrns from the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.