Record Setting Snowfall in Rochester – Storm-Related Fatal Crash

Clearwater, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota State Patrol is reporting that yesterday's snow storm contributed to at least one fatal crash in the state.

It occurred just before 11 o'clock last night on eastbound I-94 near Clearwater in Wright County. The State Patrol says a semi-truck jackknifed into the center median cables on the freeway, and shortly afterward, a vehicle driven by a Monticello man crashed into the trailer of the truck and was then hit by a second semi-truck.

The crash victim was identified by the State Patrol as 61-year-old Thomas Victor Pearson.

The driver of the jackknifed semi-truck was identified as 29-year-old Kalifabdulahi Yusuf of Faribault. The State Patrol says he, and the 41-year-old Brooklyn, New York man driving the second truck, were not hurt.

The preliminary crash report indicates all of the individuals involved in the incident were wearing seatbelts and alcohol wasn't not involved.

The State Patrol reported there were a total of 453 whether-related traffic crashes that resulted in 38 injuries in Minnesota on Thursday. There were also 281 reports of vehicles off roads, 28 vehicle spit outs, and 38 jackknifed semi-trucks.

The additional snow that fell overnight boosted the snowfall totals from the season's first significant snowstorm in the Rochester area. The National Weather Service is reporting 8 inches of snow fell in an area of northeast Rochester and there were multiple reports of more than 7 inches of snow in northwest Rochester.

The National Weather Service is reporting that 5.9 inches of snow fell at the Rochester Airport on Thursday, which set a new record for the date. The previous record for December 19 was set in 2008 at 5.4 inches. The 5.9 inch total also does not include the snow that fell on the city overnight.