Two Killed After Semi Truck’s Tire Hits SUV on Minnesota Freeway

St. Michael, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two Minnesotans lost their lives Saturday after a tire from a semi truck hit their vehicle. 

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The State Patrol responded to the deadly incident near the Twin Cities Saturday afternoon. It happened at the interchange of I-94 and Hwy. 241 in St. Michael. 

The report indicates a westbound semi truck on I-94 lost two tires shortly before 5 p.m. One of the tires entered the eastbound lanes of the interstate where it struck an SUV that was transporting four people. 

The driver of the SUV, identified as 44-year-old Viengkhone Nguyen of Brooklyn Park, and a passenger, identified as 43-year-old Lea Khamphachanh of St. Cloud, were pronounced dead at the scene. 

Two other passengers in the SUV, identified as 28-year-old Tiana Kanlaya Deppa of Rice, MN and 45-year-old Pane Eisenschenk, were brought to a Minneapolis hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

The report identifies the truck driver as 37-year-old Khadar Abdullahi Hawadle of Savage. He escaped the deadly incident without injuries. 

The report indicates everyone involved was buckled up and that alcohol was not a factor in causing the crash, the report says. The freeway was closed for approximately six hours Saturday evening.