One dead in crash on Hwy. 61 in St. Paul

The single-vehicle crash led authorities to close Hwy. 61 during the early part of Monday’s morning commute.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
August 12, 2024 at 1:46PM
Traffic was diverted off northbound Hwy. 61 in Newport due to a fatal crash. (Minnesota Department of Transportation)

A man from Hastings died early Monday in a one-vehicle crash on Hwy. 61 in St. Paul.

Authorities closed the northbound lanes of the highway while they investigated the wreck, which happened about 4:30 a.m. near Lower Afton Road.

The driver and lone occupant of a GMC Sierra went off the roadway into the center median and struck a tree, the State Patrol said.

The driver, 53, was not wearing a seat belt, a patrol crash report said. His name has not been released.

Traffic was diverted off northbound Hwy. 61 onto eastbound Interstate 494 until lanes reopened about 7:20 a.m.

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather. 

See More

More from Twin Cities

In this screen grab from video, former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter stands with defense attorney Earl Gray, as the verdict is read Thursday, Dec.,23, 2021 at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn. Jurors on Thursday convicted Potter of two manslaughter charges in the killing of Daunte Wright, a Black motorist she shot during a traffic stop after she said she confused her gun for her Taser.(Court TV via AP)

The Washington board changed its mind after learning the training would have been co-led by Potter, the former police officer who shot and killed Daunte Wright in 2021.