Weather-Related Crash Total in Minnesota Rises to Nearly 500

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - What was the largest snowfall of the season for some Minnesotans resulted in havoc on state highways.

The Minnesota State Patrol is now reporting that there were 471 traffic crashes statewide between 7 AM on Wednesday and 1 PM today.

32 of the crashes resulted in injuries, including two that were classified as serious injury or fatal crashes. At least three of the injury crashes occurred in southeastern Minnesota.

The State Patrol says a 58-year-old woman from Missouri suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the semi-truck she was driving collided with another semi-truck on I-35 in Rice County shortly after 10 AM. The road was partially covered by snow and ice.

Another injury crash was reported just before 9:20 AM in Goodhue County. The State Patrol says a 37-year-old St. Paul man was taken to the Hastings Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries when the car he was driving collided with a pickup truck on Highway 316 in Welch Township.

Kim David/Townsquare Media

The third incident occurred shortly after 2 AM on I-90 in Freeborn County. A 37-year-old man from Shakopee was driving a semi-truck when he lost control and it rolled onto its side. He was transported to the Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital in Albert Lea with non-life-threatening injuries.

The snowfall totals reported to the National Weather Service in southeastern Minnesota were fairly modest. Zumbro Falls reported 2.1 inches of accumulation, while 2 inches of snow were reported in Kasson and Mantorville.

The unofficial total at the Rochester Airport was just over a half inch, although there was a report of 1.8 inches of new snow in southwest Rochester.

There were areas to the north of Rochester that did receive significant snow. The Twin Cities airport reported just under 7 inches of accumulation, while 7.5 inches of snow was reported along Highway 52 in Dakota County near Coates.

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