A couple travelling in their car were killed after multiple hay bales slid off a semi-truck along a country road in Minnesota crashing into their vehicle . It 's not clear how the bales came loose but the accident occurred as the truck went around a bend just after 9 a.m. on Saturday morning . Teresa Erickson , 52 , and her husband Dale , 59 , were driving their pickup in the opposite direction when they were unable to avoid the hay . Mr Erickson 's car was forced into a ditch and burst into flames . Killed : Dale Erickson , 59 , and Teresa Erickson , 52 , died within days of each other after their vehicle crashed into a ditch on County Road 9 and caught fire on Saturday morning after they were hit by a bale of hay . Scene of the crash : The couple passed the truck carrying the hay along a curve on Houston County Road 9 northeast of Houston , Minnesota just after 9 a.m. on Saturday . The couple were airlifted to hospital in Wisconsin however Mrs Erickson died soon after the accident and her husband passed away earlier this week . The semi that caused the crash was driven by Randall Hongerholt , 49 , of Houston , according to the state patrol . He was not injured but according to the Minnesota State Patrol , charges are pending following the outcome of an investigation into the crash . 'Commercial vehicles , and all vehicles , are required to secure their load in a manner that prevents any of it 's load from dropping , shifting , leaking , blowing or otherwise escaping from the vehicle , ' said Patrol Lt. Tiffani Nielson . 'This fatal crash , unfortunately , is exactly why we have these laws in place — to prevent injuries or death . 'This was a very tragic crash , and a family is grieving a terrible loss that could have been prevented . ' Hay bales vary greatly in weight , depending not only on dimensions but density . A federal study analyzed seven deaths in Minnesota in the mid-1990s associated with large hay bales and found that the bales ranged from 750 to 1,500 pounds . In Minnesota , truckers can be fined $ 385 if they are found to have an improperly secured or shifting load .
As truck went around a curve on a curve in Minnesota it lost its load of hay A pickup headed in the opposite direction was hit by one of the bales . sue Erickson , 59 , and his wife , 52-year - old sue Erickson were killed . The driver of the semi - trailer named Hongerholt was not injured .