Snow flurries slickened Twin Cities roadways just in time for the Wednesday evening commute, slowing traffic and causing hundreds of crashes.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation deployed dozens of plows around the metro to manage a projected 1-3 inches of snowfall. By Wednesday night, 379 crashes had been reported statewide due to deteriorating conditions, including 44 that resulted in injury. State Patrol recorded 95 vehicle spinouts and seven jackknifed semitrailer trucks over a 12-hour span.
Traffic cams caught at least one overturned vehicle on Interstate 35W near Burnsville Parkway, as well as other serious crashes on Hwy. 169 near Medicine Lake.
A 23-year-old Lakeville woman was hospitalized with critical injuries Wednesday after her sedan crossed the median and was struck broadside by an oncoming SUV on icy County Road 50. The other driver was not hurt, but her 14-year-old son was taken to Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville with minor injuries.
In southeastern Minnesota, snow and ice on Hwy. 57 caused a rollover crash that hospitalized 18-year-old Gretchen Anderson, of Zumbrota. She was taken to St. Marys in Rochester with noncritical injuries.
Farther north, slick conditions led 56-year-old David Lindberg, of Clearwater, Minn., to hit the center median cables and roll his pickup truck. He was hospitalized with noncritical injuries in St. Cloud.
Light snow is expected to fall through Thursday morning. The metro may see a reprieve Friday before continued snowfall this weekend.
Drivers should slow down — especially on bridges and overpasses — leave extra space between vehicles and watch for slippery roadways.
