On May 20, 2025, a two-vehicle collision occurred on Nature Road, east of Great River Road and about two miles east of Bowlus, Minnesota, according to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was reported at approximately 7:23 a.m.
Authorities stated that William Conroy, age 23, from Royalton, was driving westbound on Nature Road while Walter Beneke, age 83, from Bowlus, was heading eastbound. Conroy reportedly diverted his attention from the road as he tried to find his cell phone. As a result, his vehicle crossed the center line and struck Beneke’s vehicle.
Emergency responders treated Beneke at the scene and released him shortly after. Conroy did not sustain any injuries in the crash.
Sheriff Shawn Larsen commented on the situation: “This is an example of how quickly things can go wrong on the road when a driver becomes distracted. We encourage everyone to keep their full attention on the road at all times. Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can lead to dangerous consequences. Thankfully in this case, no one was seriously injured.”
The response included assistance from the Royalton Police Department, Bowlus Fire Department, Bowlus First Response Team and Mayo Clinic Ambulance.
