When someone talks about a truck accident that occurs in mid-April involving ice on the roadway, only a Minnesotan would not find the mention of ice to be out of the ordinary. Hazardous roads due to snow and ice are a big part of life in Minnesota, with winters such as this year’s often lasting longer than they should.
The mention of the ice above wasn’t just to complain about the winter that never seemed to end; it was cited as a contributing factor in a truck accident that actually occur on Wednesday, April 16 on Interstate 94.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the accident occurred at approximately 4 a.m. that morning near Barnesville, after the late snowfall during the night. Two semi trucks were involved in the collision, one carrying a trailer packed with crates of milk. When the driver of this truck had pulled alongside the other vehicle, the second driver lost control.
The second vehicle crashed into the side of the one carrying the milk, pushing it into the pillars in the median, stabilizing the bridge above. The semi truck was crushed, and in this collision, the driver suffered catastrophic injuries he wasn’t able to survive.
Sergeant Jessie Grabow with the State Patrol noted that the particular stretch of road was icy when he arrived on the scene. The milk that was spilled didn’t help the situation either, coating the roadway with yet another liquid that could freeze. Sgt. Grabow wasn’t in the area purely by chance. In fact, he was already on his way to another truck accident when he got the call for this collision. He cautioned other drivers to be careful, taking necessary precautions to stay safe.
Hazardous roads are one thing, but if a driver fails to take those “necessary precautions,” they may still be held liable for damages that are caused — even if there was some inclement weather near the time of the crash.
Source: Valley News Live, “Moorhead Man Killed in Crash Near Barnesville,” April 16, 2014
