4 dead in I-94 crash near Alexandria
At least four people died and an unknown number of people were injured when a car crossed a highway median and crashed head-on into oncoming traffic on Interstate 94 in central Minnesota, the State Patrol said.
The crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. Monday west of Alexandria. State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow said roads were slippery and slushy and snow was falling, but officials were still investigating the cause of the crash.
State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske said the crash happened when a westbound car went through the median and crashed head-on into an eastbound sport utility vehicle.
Grabow said the four people who died were all in the westbound vehicle; people in two other vehicles were taken to area hospitals. The number of injured and the extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
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"Anyway you put this, it's a bad deal," Grabow said. "Fatals are never good, and when you get four people in one vehicle it just makes it that much worse."
State Patrol investigators were reconstructing the crash, and investigating whether the weather, speed or alcohol were factors. The eastbound lanes of I-94 were closed for about two hours after the crash.
Grabow said weather conditions were still unfavorable Monday night.
"I'd advise people to use caution while traveling," Grabow said. "Slow it down... This is a reminder that winter is still here and we need to slow down and pay attention."
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)