State Trooper Injured In Crash Near Interstate 35 In Lakeville
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities say one driver was airlifted and a State Trooper was hurt after a head-on crash in Lakeville Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. on Kenrick Avenue at 205th Street in Lakeville. The State Patrol says a trooper was hit head-on. The trooper was pinned, but was and being extricated by rescue crews.
Authorities say a State Patrol squad was heading southbound on Kenrick Avenue near 205th Street, and a 2012 Chrysler 200 was heading northbound in the right lane of Interstate 35. The Chrysler was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed on I-35 when went off the road to the right, went through a freeway fence and hit the trooper's SUV head-on.
The driver of the Chrysler was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. He was identified as Wesley Paul Briggs, 29 of Lakeville. It is not known if Briggs was wearing a seat belt.
The State Trooper was identified as 35-year-old Sgt. Mike Krukowski of Oakdale. He was taken by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. He was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.
What led up to Briggs going off the road is under investigation.