Sunday crash of trailer carrying reindeer caused pileup on I-94

A pickup truck that was hauling a trailer loaded with reindeer went off the road into the ditch, causing a six-car crash. A man hit by a passing car was in critical condition.

Last update: December 8, 2008 - 11:09 PM

A reindeer that escaped after the trailer it was traveling in crashed caused a six-car pileup on Interstate 94 in Stearns County on Sunday.

A pickup truck that was hauling a trailer loaded with reindeer went off the road into the ditch around 7 p.m., the State Patrol said. One of the reindeer escaped and was hit by a car driven by Thomas S. Hoffman, 56, of Alexandria. Hoffman got out of his car after hitting the deer and was then hit by a passing car. He is in critical condition, the State Patrol said.

One other driver was treated for nonserious injuries and released. The other four drivers, including the driver of the pickup truck hauling the reindeer, were not injured.

LORA PABST

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