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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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