Posted at: 11/19/2009 5:03 PM | KSAX.com
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State Patrol Releases Victims' Names in Fatal Casino Bus Crash

ST. PAUL, MINN. - The Minnesota State Patrol announced the names of two of the victims killed and the 20 injured in Wednesday afternoon's fatal casino bus crash on 1-90 near Austin, Minn.

The State Patrol said it will continue the investigation which will likely take several weeks to complete.

"Investigations like this case take a great deal of time to complete, given the number of people involved, and the intricate nature of conducting a thorough post-crash commercial vehicle inspection pf the motor coach involved in this crash," said Captain Matt Langer of the State Patrol.

Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, the casino bus traveling on westbound 1-90 outside of Austin crossed the median and went through the eastbound lanes, according to State Patrol.  The bus rolled over and ended up in a ditch north of the interstate.

Killed in the crash were Rhonda Hill, 52, of Plainview, Minn., and Pamela Holmquist, 56, of Kasson, Minn.  The driver of the bus, Edwin Erickson, 52, of Elgin, Minn. is at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

The injured passengers:

Beverly Cooper, 78, Rochester

Richard Cooper, 83, Rochester

Prem Deep, 87, Rochester

Russell Denzer, 57, Mojave Valley, Ariz.

Helen Eubank, 80, Rochester

Alice Greene, 72, Rochester

Maurice Greene, 72, Rochester

Betty Holmquist, 82, Kasson

Earl Kesler, 73, Rochester

Mary Kesler, 74, Rochester

Adele Larson, 85, Rochester

Leon Markham, 78, Mantorville

Virginia Markham, 75, Mantorville

Janice Murphy, 72, Rochester

Betty Prigge, 77, Byron

Joyce Sievert, 76, Kasson

Ardell Swenson, 71, Austin

Helen Wilde, 66, Byron

James Wilde, 66, Byron

One passenger, 76-year-old David Prigge of Byron, was not injured in the crash.