ST. PAUL — Increased impaired driving patrols will hit Minnesota roads throughout July, one of the deadliest months for alcohol-related crashes. The statewide enhanced impaired driving enforcement sweep is administered by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and will include around 400 law enforcement agencies patrolling extra hours. The campaign covers the 4th of July holiday weekend.

A chain reaction accident Thursday on U.S. Highway 12 left a Balaton man in critical condition.

Lonny L. Johnson, 47, was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with facial injuries after the 2000 International semitrailer he was driving rear-ended a stopped 1998 International semitrailer around noon Thursday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The accident, which caused a chain-reaction with a 1995 Ford Windstar and 2005 Mazda Station Wagon, closed the highway for a few hours.

The Litchfield Police Association will hold its annual young people's fishing contest from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18.

Registration for the contest, held at Jaycee Park in Litchfield, begins at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $3 and includes lunch. The contest is for age 15 and younger.

Numerous door prizes will be given out, including two bicycles. Must be present to win. Trophies will be awarded to contest winners.

An SUV struck a 14-year-old boy who was chasing a toy that had gone into the street Tuesday.

The Litchfield teen had minor injuries, including some abrasions, according to the Litchfield Police Department. The accident happened around 11 a.m. on Fifth Street East.

Two men in their early 20s were arrested trying to break into Mies Outland in Watkins early Friday morning.

Watkins Police Chief Jason Elmore responded to a burglar alarm at the motorcycle, ATV, scooter and tractor dealership at 2:15 a.m. June 6. He observed two suspects fleeing the business parking lot. They were stopped on Minnesota Highway 55 just east of Watkins and arrested.

Charles Chastek of Litchfield is in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center after a broadside collision Monday.

Chastek, 35, was seriously injured when his 1996 Honda motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 55 and Stearns County Road 181, just southeast of Paynesville, the Minnesota State Patrol reports.

A Dassel woman died Thursday in a two-vehicle accident on the east edge of Litchfield.

The accident happened at 2:07 p.m. at the intersection on County State Aid Highway 34 and East Ripley Street.

A statewide, and nationwide, “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement sweep started Monday, following a rash of deadly crashes over the last month that resulted in 22 vehicle occupant traffic deaths of which 15 of the motorists killed were not wearing seat belts.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (will coordinate the enhanced enforcement patrols among more than 400 agencies during May 19–June 1. A similar enforcement effort in May 2007 resulted in nearly 8,500 seat belt citations. A seat belt citation is $25 but can cost as much as $115 with administrative fees.

A two-vehicle property damage accident at the intersection of Holcombe Avenue North and East Ninth Street sent a woman to Meeker County Memorial Hospital Monday afternoon.

The first vehicle was a 2001 Ford driven by Harriet Koelln of Litchfield. Morgan Holker of Kimball was driving a 2000 Mitsubishi.

There was more than $1,000 in damage, according to the Litchfield Police Department. Initial reports do not indicate which driver was taken to MCMH.