Semi lands in the rough

After leaving U.S. Highway 14 and entering the ditch, this semi-truck ended up on the Tracy golf course, just to the north of the ninth green. The driver received non-life threatening injuries and was wearing his seatbelt. Photos / Per Peterson

A quiet night on the links was interrupted in a big way Monday evening when a 2010 International semi left the road, entered the ditch and ended up settling just off the No. 9 green at the Tracy Country Club.

The semi was headed east on Highway 14 when it left the road shortly before 7:20 p.m. Monday. Upon entering the ditch, it also knocked down a utility pole, killing power to the club house.

“It shook the whole building,” said TCC Manager Jeff Blegen.

Greg Marron and Shelly Winter-Lipinski were just finishing up their round of golf when the accident happened.

“We heard and saw it,” Winter-Lipinski said. “He jumped high enough to hit the (power) lines and bring them down with him. He went up really high.”

Winter-Lipinski likened the noise of the crash to an explosion.

“I was like, ‘What just exploded over there?’” she said. “Then when the dust cleared, we saw the vehicle.”

Marron was chipping to the green when the incident happened.

“I heard it, then I saw it — he went in the ditch and started going up the ditch,” Marron said. “Hopefully (the driver’s OK). He was talking to me after, he was coherent.”

The semi is owned by Erik Linsmeier Trucking, LLC. out of Redwood Falls. The driver, Gustavo Flores, 34, of Morgan, sustained non-life threatening injuries, according to State Patrol. He was transported to Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. Flores was wearing his seatbelt, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

The Tracy Fire Department and Tracy Ambulance assisted at the scene, along with the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office.