Ellendale man killed in Cass County crash

An unbelted driver from Steele County was one of three people killed in a crash in Northern Minnesota.
The State Patrol has identified the victims as Jeffrey Joseph Wertish, 55, of Ellendale, Robert Charles Nelson, 59, of Carver and Lenny James Steffen, 34, of Backus. They died in the crash on Highway 371 at 16th Street N.W. north of Backus in Cass County Nov. 4 at about 11:15 p.m.
Wertish was driving a 2007 GMC Yukon and was not wearing a seat belt, according to the patrol. Nelson, who was wearing his seat belt, was a passenger in Wertish’s vehicle.
Wertish’s son, Jared Matthew Wertish, 25, of Rochester received non-life threatening injuries in the crash. Jared was transported to Essentia Hospital in Brainerd. The patrol said it’s unknown if Jared was wearing his seat belt.
Steffen was driving a 2005 Chevy Uplander. The patrol said Steffen was not wearing his seat belt.
Wertish was traveling northbound on Highway 371 between Hackensack and Backus while Steffen was going eastbound on 16th Street N.W. The patrol said Steffen failed to stop at Highway 371 and t-boned Wertish’s vehicle.
The patrol determined no alcohol was involved with Wertish. However, the patrol said it is “unknown” at this time if alcohol was a factor with Steffen.
Assisting the State Patrol at the crash scene were Cass County Sheriff’s Office, North Ambulance and Backus Fire Rescue. 
Wertish grew up in Chaska and Victoria. He graduated from Waconia High School in 1985. He worked as a machinist at Entegris in Chaska for 34 years and recently began working at Savillex in Eden Prairie. He served on the Hamburg and Carver fire departments for 20 years.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Kera Wertish and two sons.
A celebration of Wertish’s life will be held at a later time.