Icy Roads Cause Hundreds Crashes, One Fatal on Minnesota Roads, Difficult Conditions Expected to Linger Sunday

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Slick travel conditions caused by icing led to one fatal crash and hundreds of other crashes on Minnesota's roads. 

See Also: Fatal Hwy. 14 Crash Claims Life of Southern Minnesota Man

A mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow swept across Minnesota on Saturday leaving a glaze of ice on the state’s roads. 

As of Sunday morning, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says some of the major highways to the north, west and northwest of Rochester remain partially covered with snow and ice. 

Over 200 Crashes, One Fatal, Reported in Minnesota Saturday

The State Patrol is reporting 239 crashes from midnight until 10 p.m. on Saturday. One of the crashes claimed the life of a 74-year-old man at the interchange of Hwy. 52 and Concord Blvd. in Inver Grove Heights. 

Willard Henry Pohl of Inver Grove Heights was driving his pick-up truck up the entrance ramp to northbound 52 when the pick-up lost control, slid across the northbound lanes of the highway and collided with a northbound SUV around 1:30 p.m. 

Pohl was pronounced dead at the scene, the state crash report says. 

39-year-old Bryan Charles Bredesen of Spring Valley was driving the SUV. Bredesen and his passengers, identified as  40-year-old Andrea Marie Bredesen, 17-year-old Matthew Bredesen, 14-year-old Wyatt Bredesen, 12-year-old Emily Bredesen and 6-year-old Issac Bredesen, all of whom are also from Spring Valley, escaped the crash without injuries. 

Two of the 23 injury crashes Saturday occurred in southeast Minnesota. The injuries in those crashes were non-life-threatening the State Patrol says. 

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There were also 79 reports of vehicles off the road, six spin outs and seven jack-knifed semis. 

City of Rochester, MN Asks Public to Avoid Non-Essential Travel Sunday Morning, Warns of Continued Poor Road Conditions

The City of Rochester issued a news release Saturday night warning the public to expect continued travel difficulties into Sunday afternoon.

Officials say freezing drizzle left the city’s streets in poor conditions and are asking motorists to avoid non-essential travel until Sunday afternoon. 

Plows are out treating roads and the news release asks anyone parking on city streets to abide by the city’s alternate side parking rule. 

The Rochester Police Department responded to over 75 crashes and traffic assists within the city from 3 p.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday. Police also echoed the city's request to avoid travel if possible.

Rochester Public Transit is running as of Sunday morning, however riders are told to anticipate delays and potential route suspensions.

Rochester Public Utilities announced a response to a large power outage in the downtown area around 7:00 Sunday morning. The power was reported to be back on for the impacted 1600 customers about an hour later.