NEW ULM — Nearly two years after a fatal, two-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. Highway 14 near Courtland, the family of a New Ulm man that died of injuries in the crash filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against a Mankato man and the Minnesota Valley Action Council in Brown County District Court last month.

Michael John Reinarts, 41, died in the April 4, 2018 crash while driving a 2008 Chevrolet Express van eastbound on Highway 14 that collided with a westbound 2009 Ford pickup driven by Charles H. Elder, 68, Mankato. Both lanes were ice-covered at the time of the crash, according to s Minnesota State Patrol crash report.

Both drivers wore seat belts, air bags deployed and alcohol was not involved, according to the report. Reinarts was transferred to Regions Hospital, St. Paul before he died. Elder and a passenger in the van Reinarts was driving were transported to New Ulm Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson said no other charges were filed in the crash after the State Patrol determined the road was completely covered with ice at the time of the crash.

The wrongful death civil case against Elder and the Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC), for whom Elder was driving the vehicle, seeks financial damages, and claims Elder was in the wrong lane and caused the crash.

In a response letter, the defendants claim Elder was not driving negligently.

The lawsuit was filed by Jeff Reinarts of New Ulm, father of Michael John Reinarts, as his next of kin.

Jeff Reinarts is represented by attorney Benjamin McAninch of Mankato. Elder and MVAC are represented by attorney Colby B. Lund of Minneapolis.

A hearing date has not been set in the case. Hanson said all “non-essential” case hearings are postponed until at least April 27. He said some case hearings are scheduled for May.

Michael Reinarts worked as an electrician in New Ulm. His survivors include his wife and three children. His mother Iona testified at a state legislative hearing last year for the expansion of Highway 14 to four lanes between New Ulm and Nicollet. A financial plan to complete the project using state and federal funds was recently approved. Construction could begin as early as next year.

Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Troy Christianson said the crash happened one mile east of Courtland on Highway 14.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.