Minnesota state troopers were kept extra busy late Friday and early Saturday, responding to more than 260 crashes on icy and snowy roads across the state in a 24-hour period.
People were injured in 33 of those crashes, State Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Tiffani Nielson said via e-mail. One critical injury was reported in Itasca County, she said.
Several of the injury crashes occurred in Stearns and Benton counties, where drivers faced reduced visibility and slick roads during and after light snowfall late Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
Nielson said 231 of the crashes statewide resulted in vehicle damage.
The patrol usually handles 25 to 75 crashes when roads are clear and there is good visibility, Nielson said.
"Drivers need to be aware that road conditions can change quickly, especially on bridges, underpasses and ramps," she said. "Drivers need to drive at a safe speed, where if they lose traction with the roadway, they can still correct and not strike another vehicle or hit the ditch."
Visibility was also low overnight in the Twin Cities metro area, which received about 0.7 inches of snow and fog Friday, according to the Weather Service.
Foggy conditions in the Twin Cities are expected to return Saturday night into Sunday, according to the Weather Service. Temperatures should max around the low 30s.
