One killed in head-on crash in western Twin Cities suburbs

A Bloomington woman died Friday when her vehicle collided head-on with a semi on U.S. Highway 12 in the western Twin Cities suburbs.

West Hennepin Public Safety reported that the crash happened just after 3 p.m. on Highway 12 near Valley Road in Independence.

Witnesses said a westbound vehicle crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound semi. Another vehicle, also traveling west, was hit after the initial collision.

The driver of the first vehicle died at the scene; she was identified as 52-year-old Tamara Freiborg of Bloomington.

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The driver of the semi, 40-year-old Osman Abdi of Minneapolis, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. The third driver was not injured.

"Witnesses to the crash said there was no driving conduct by Freiborg's vehicle prior to the crash such as weaving or swerving," West Hennepin Public Safety reported in a news release Saturday.

Authorities said Freiborg's phone was found inside a zippered pocket in her purse. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The highway was closed for several hours after the crash.

KARE 11 reported that the stretch of Highway 12 where the crash occurred is known for being dangerous, with a number of serious crashes in recent years.