Crash involving squad car closes lanes on Hwy. 65 in Blaine

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: July 15, 2008 - 7:06 AM

The northbound lanes on Hwy. 65 just before Hwy. 10 in Blaine are closed and southbound traffic is getting by on one shoulder at 89th Avenue NE. as police investigate a two-vehicle crash that involved a Blaine squad car.

According to the State Patrol, the squad car was on its way to a call with its lights flashing when it collided with a pickup truck in the intersection of Hwy. 65 and Hwy. 10 around 3:20 a.m.

The pickup driver, a 43-year-old man from Bethel, Minn., suffered internal and head injuries. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, the patrol said.

The officer, 39, was taken to Unity Hospital in Fridley with a cut on the head. A K9 dog in the squad car was not hurt, the patrol said.

At 6:55 a.m., southbound traffic was backed up about ¼-mile north of the accident scene, said Tom Heininger, a spokesman for the Regional Transportation Management Center.

Lanes are expected to be closed for another 2 hours this morning as a State Patrol Reconstruction team investigates the accident.

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