Rochester, Minnesota – A Stewartville man died late Thursday night in a violent crash that left a community in shock and mourning. Forty‑eight‑year‑old Daniel Victor Schandorff lost his life after his van collided with a northbound semi‑truck on Highway 63 near the Rochester International Airport around 9:45 p.m. Thursday, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Schandorff was driving a Chevrolet Express van north on Highway 63 when it made contact with a Freightliner Cascadia semi‑truck near the intersection with 80th Street Southeast. Emergency crews rushed to the scene within minutes after the crash was first reported by drivers on the heavily traveled highway.
First responders found Schandorff badly injured inside the wrecked van. Firefighters from the Stewartville and Rochester fire departments worked alongside the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and Mayo Clinic Ambulance crews to try to free him. He was ultimately transported by ambulance to a local trauma center, where he later died from his injuries.
Officials say Schandorff was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, a factor that often makes the difference between life and death in high‑impact crashes. The semi‑truck driver, 55‑year‑old Jack Lieffort of Grand Meadow, was wearing his seat belt and walked away without injuries. Authorities confirmed alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
Eyewitnesses described seeing emergency lights and crews working long into the night to clear the scene and reopen Highway 63, a route that links Rochester with outlying communities. Road conditions at the time were reported as wet, which may have contributed to the crash, though investigators have not yet determined exactly how the collision unfolded.
As news of Schandorff’s death spread, friends and neighbors in Stewartville expressed deep sadness. Many spoke of him as a quiet, hardworking man who was well liked in the small town just south of Rochester. The local community has rallied around his family, sharing memories and condolences online and at gatherings.
The Minnesota State Patrol continues its investigation into the crash. Troopers are asking anyone who saw the accident or has video from that portion of Highway 63 to contact investigators. Officials say more details will be released as they become available.
