Emergency crews worked through the night to clear eastbound I-94 near the Hudson Bridge after multiple vehicle crashes that left some injured and other motorists caught in traffic for hours. At about 9 p.m. Monday, a vehicle spun out, causing a semitrailer truck to jackknife, hit a guardrail and tip over, authorities on the scene said. Two other vehicles then hit the semi, which was badly damaged. Some people were taken to an area hospital for injuries, but authorities reached at midnight said they didn't know how many or the extent of their injuries. The accidents spread across three of the interstate's four lanes, which remain closed. The Minnesota State Patrol opened one lane to eastbound traffic at about 11:45 p.m. The semitrailer was reportedly carrying 40,000 pounds of crab legs, cod and salmon. After several wreckers were unable to lift the vehicle, crews had to unload the seafood. Slick roadways may have played a factor in the accident, authorities said. The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported several crashes and spinouts along area routes overnight. "It's so icy it's hard even to walk on the freeway. It's very deceptive," said Deputy Joel Legut of the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Kevin Giles • kevin.giles@startribune.com
