The hearts of family, friends, and the wider Rochester community are heavy with grief as they mourn the untimely passing of 46-year-old Laura Wittwer, whose life was tragically cut short in a two-vehicle crash east of Dodge Center. The accident occurred on County Road 34, where Laura’s 2006 Ford Mustang crossed the centerline for reasons still under investigation, resulting in a devastating collision that claimed her life at the scene.
Despite the immediate response of law enforcement, fire crews, and first responders, the impact left Laura with injuries from which she could not be saved. She was carefully and respectfully extricated from her vehicle—a moment that carried profound sorrow for everyone on scene. The suddenness of her loss has left her loved ones in shock, grappling with the reality of life without her warmth, kindness, and steady presence.
Laura is remembered as a woman who touched lives in genuine, meaningful ways. Her smile, her compassion, and the quiet strength she carried left an impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her. She had a way of making others feel seen and valued, and those cherished memories now serve as both comfort and heartbreak.
The other driver, Amanda Voca of Dodge Center, and her two passengers were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, treated, and released. A witness described Laura’s vehicle drifting across the centerline shortly before the crash, a detail that has left investigators searching for answers and loved ones struggling with the weight of tragedy.
In moments like these, communities come together, holding the grieving close. Today, they stand with the Wittwer family, offering love, prayer, and unwavering support as they navigate a loss no family should endure.
May Laura’s memory forever remain a guiding light—gentle, loving, and unforgettable. May she rest in peace, and may those who love her find strength in the legacy she leaves behind.
