I-35E In Hugo Reopened After Fatal Accident
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Both lanes of traffic are open again after a fatal accident on Interstate 35E near Hugo, Minn. shut down the area for several hours.
The State Patrol said the accident happened around 6:22 a.m. and involved two semi trucks and at least two other vehicles. A 46-year-old mother was driving with her 20-year-old daughter, both of North Branch, when traffic congestion brought them to a standstill.
State Patrol said a semi truck carrying cars apparently didn't see the stopped car and rear-ended the vehicle, pushing it into oncoming traffic.
A second semi then hit the passenger-side of the car. The 20-year-old daughter died on the scene. The mother was taken to Regents Hospital, where her condition is unknown at this time.
I-35E was shut down on County Road J in both directions while crews reconstructed the accident. Both lanes of traffic reopened around 10:30 a.m.
Officials say neither semi truck driver was injured.
The county attorney will review the accident details and decide whether charges should be filed.
Lt. Eric Roeske, of the Minnesota State Patrol, said this is a reminder to everyone on the road to pay attention in construction zones. Traffic in this case is typically separated by a median, but due to road work, both lanes of traffic were running side-by-side.
