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Weather a factor in two fatal crashes in Minnesota

The early rush hour in the Twin Cities was littered with crashes and spinouts.

November 7, 2013 at 2:02AM
(David Brewster/David Brewster)

Two motorists were killed in separate crashes during first-of-the-season wintry driving conditions in rural Minnesota, authorities said Wednesday.

Shortly after 5:20 a.m. Wednesday in east-central Minnesota, a pickup truck heading south on slick Interstate 35 south of Harris swerved to avoid a deer, rolled into the median and flung the driver into the northbound lanes, according to the State Patrol.

A car then struck the man, a 29-year-old from Harris, the patrol said. The man, whose identity has yet to be released, was wearing dark clothing and did not have on his seat belt, the patrol added.

Late Tuesday evening in southwestern Minnesota, a compact car and a semitrailer truck heading in opposite directions collided on a two-lane highway, killing the driver of the smaller vehicle, according to the patrol.

The collision occurred on icy Hwy. 23 in Pipestone County, killing Amy L. Redenius, 26, of Pipestone, the patrol said. Authorities have yet to say which vehicle was in the wrong lane.

The Twin Cities escaped the worst of the snow that slapped the Upper Midwest overnight, but icy conditions created havoc on the roads during the metro's Wednesday morning commute.

At least one person was airlifted to a hospital after a crash on Hwy. 169 at Broadway in Jordan. The original report is that two vehicles went off the road around 7:35 a.m. It's now being classified as a serious injury accident, according to the patrol.

The early rush hour was littered with crashes and spinouts, including a pair on I-494 in the vicinity of Hwy. 212 and in the I-35/Hwy. 280/Hwy. 36 commons in Roseville. Bridge decks and ramps were problematic throughout the metro as temperatures hovered around freezing.

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Conditions were especially slick in the south and west metro. At 6:35 a.m., Chanhassen police shut down part of Hwy. 5 at Powers Boulevard after a spinout and crash involving up to five vehicles blocked the road.

In addition, a crash that included a rollover blocked the left lane on northbound I-35 at 210th Street in Lakeville.

Most of the metro area received less than 2 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. However, Richfield had 3 inches by 6 a.m., and a bit to the west, Watertown had 3.5 inches. On the north edge of the metro area, Monticello reported 4.5 inches.

pwalsh@startribune.com • 612-673-4482

harlow@startribune.com • 612-673-7768

Terry Jackson, manager of Marshall 6 movie theater shovels snow Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2013, in preparation for the early show. Jackson said it was coming down faster than he could keep the sidewalk clear.
Terry Jackson, manager of Marshall 6 movie theater shovels snow Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2013, in preparation for the early show. Jackson said it was coming down faster than he could keep the sidewalk clear. (Colleen Kelly — Independent via AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Ian Sutherland, 16, wiped off the snow that he says he was ready for from his car in route to school, Wednesday, November 6, 2013 in Minneapolis, MN. (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com ORG XMIT: MIN1311060720598156
get USed to it: Ian Sutherland, 16, scraped the snow off his car window before heading to school Wednesday in Minneapolis. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writers

about the writers

Paul Walsh

Reporter

Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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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.

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