Two Fatal Crashes Reported in Minnesota Monday

Undated (KROC-AM News)- The State Patrol is reporting two deadly crashes occurred along two different Minnesota highways Monday. 

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The first fatal wreck resulted in the closure of a major Twin Cities freeway during the morning rush hour. The State Patrol responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a pickup towing a trailer that had left the road and struck the base of an overpass at the Hwy. 62/34 St. interchange just north of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport shortly before 3:30 a.m. 

The sole passenger in the pick-up, identified as 21-year-old Preston Haley of Como, CO, was pronounced dead at the scene. The pick-up driver, 34-year-old Brian Cravey of Willis Point, TX, was brought to a nearby hospital with what were described as life-threatening injuries. 

The state crash report indicates Cravey was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. During the crash response, traffic cameras in the area captured a crash between a State Patrol squad car and a Minneapolis fire engine. No injuries were reported in that collision.  

The State Patrol responded to its second fatal crash of the day shortly before 11:30 a.m. in west-central Minnesota’s Wadena County. The state crash report indicates a semi truck traveling south on Hwy. 71 and an SUV, crossing the highway along Leaf River Rd., collided in the intersection. 

The state crash report indicates the SUV was driven by a 58-year-old Motley woman and had a passenger described as a 67-year-old Motley woman. Investigators plan to release more information regarding that fatal crash later this week. 

The truck driver, identified as 27-year-old Roman Polusmak of Olympia, WA, was not hurt. The road was described as dry at the time of the deadly crash.