Posted: 1/23/07
Brownsville woman recovering after crash
Jane Bjerke, 45, of Brownsville, was expected to return home from the hospital this week after being injured in a two-car accident on January 15.
The crash on Highway 52 north of Rochester killed two people, Salah Suleiman, 34, and Munin Sharif, 14, both of Rochester.
Bjerkeís son, Joshua, 19, who was a passenger in her vehicle, received minor injuries and was not hospitalized.
Jane Bjerke was driving southbound in a 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport van on U.S. 52 at about 9:15 a.m. that Monday morning when Suliemanís northbound Ford van crossed the highway median and collided head-on with her.
Suliemanís vehicle burst into flames and was completely burned.
Roads were icy at the time of the accident, which occurred near Zumbrota.
Bjerkeís husband, David, said on January 21 that Jane hoped to come home from St. Maryís Hospital in Rochester on Tuesday or Wednesday.
She is able to walk with a knee brace, David said. Janeís left knee cap was shattered in the crash.
Other injuries included a laceration on her liver, a collapsed lung, 4-5 broken ribs, a gouge on her head, a fractured vertebrae, and bruises just about everywhere, David said. She did not have a head injury, he said.
Josh is stiff and sore but otherwise doing fine, David added.
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