It was a quiet Monday afternoon that ended in heartbreak for the community of Rochester, Minn. As 46-year-old Laura Wittwer drove her 2006 Ford Mustang along County Road 34 near Dodge Center, something went terribly wrong. Witnesses say her Mustang drifted across the centerline — and at about 2:14 p.m., it smashed head-on into a westbound 2019 Toyota Tundra.
First responders — deputies from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, fire crews, ambulance services and EMS — converged on the scene within minutes. Firefighters had to extricate Laura from the wreckage of her Mustang, but sadly it was too late. She was pronounced dead at the scene, likely killed on impact.
The other vehicle’s driver was identified as Amanda Voca, from Dodge Center. With her in the Tundra were two passengers — an adult and a small child. All three were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and later released.
Authorities are still investigating what caused Laura’s Mustang to veer across the centerline. At this point, no mechanical failure or impairment has been confirmed — the reason remains unknown.
For friends, neighbors, and colleagues, the shock has been profound. Laura is remembered as someone whose warmth and kindness left a mark on everyone she met — a gentle, thoughtful presence that made people feel seen and valued. Her sudden passing has left a void that resonates far beyond the crash site.
In the wake of tragedy, the Rochester community has begun to rally around the Wittwer family. Offers of support, prayers, and shared grief have flowed in. As people come together, what stands out most is how many lives Laura quietly touched, and how deeply she will be missed.
Her memory — of compassion, sincerity, and quiet strength — will live on not just in mourning, but in how her neighbors carry forward her kindness. May Laura rest in peace — and may those who loved her find some comfort in the collective embrace of their community.
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